Bob Slicker, 2025: We didn’t think about anyone as a hero in the throes of recovery from the hurricanes, but several people emerged with strength, wisdom, hope, and an eye for the future.
Sean Murphy struggled to put The Doctor’s Office back on track, to put his people back to work as quickly as he could and offer comfort to his customers. Murphy, like most of us, thought that if you got the doors back open, life would go on as before, but tourism was slow to return.
In Bradenton Beach, Derek Williams had to face more than what the storm brought to his bar, the Drift-In AMI in Bradenton Beach. He had to face arbitrary rules and changing orders at city hall.
Later, Williams stood up to false accusations made during a Bradenton Beach commission meeting by city attorney Ricinda Perry, which, at least in part, contributed to Perry’s resignation.
Rather than just repairing, Williams’ recovery plan sought to improve and expand his venue’s outdoor area, helping preserve and strengthen a community gathering spot.
But Bob Slicker stood out among them.
He was fighting the odds already, working long hours with family and loyal staff ready by his side, but as the storms hit, he was dealing with serious health issues, including repeated hospitalizations.
As the owner of Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez with many years of hospitality experience, he had spent decades quietly showing up for others, whether supporting youth sports, holding fundraisers, collecting and delivering disaster relief to other communities, or simply opening his doors when people needed a place to gather.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton dealt a devastating blow to Slicker’s Eatery, flooding the restaurant with more than 3 feet of muck and filth and ripping a newly installed air-conditioning unit off the roof. The business remained closed for four and a half months.
Slicker came out fighting, inspired by his staff, and began helping displaced restaurant workers across Cortez and Bradenton Beach. He organized recurring parking-lot fundraisers, with donated food, music, tents and merchandise. He made sure the proceeds were split among employees from multiple shuttered restaurants.
He began helping the Rotary Club of AMI, or was it them helping Bob and all the others? He found private donors and volunteers to serve more than 18,000 meals to residents and first responders.
Slicker helped coordinate Rotary’s hurricane relief efforts in Cortez, distributing more than $100,000 in assistance through Home Depot vouchers, appliance replacements arranged with Rice Appliance, bicycles for residents who lost transportation, and even two donated vehicles.
In a Jan. 4 conversation with The Islander, he credited much of his outlook to his mother, Ellen Scott, who lived at the Pines Trailer Park for nearly 30 years and was deeply involved in island charities and events. She passed away two years ago.
Her influence, combined with years of coaching youth sports at the community center, shaped his belief that kindness has a lasting impact.
Now 63, Slicker says he feels fortunate to feel so much love in return.
“Not many people know what love truly is,” he said. “I feel very fortunate for that.”
Bob Slicker is an inspiration — and he is our choice for 2025 Islander of the Year.
— Robert Anderson and Bonner Joy