The Islander is a free weekly community newspaper serving Anna Maria Island. There is no charge for our standard obituary, including survivors, services, photo and other lifetime information for present and former residents of Anna Maria Island and people with affiliations on Anna Maria Island.
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— Bonner Joy, Publisher. news@islander.org
Ruth Eriks de Haan
Ruth Eriks de Haan, 95, of Allegro Fort Lauderdale and formerly of Anna Maria Island, died Sept. 1.
She was born March 19, 1931, in Highland, Indiana, to Garrett Eriks and Kate Van Kley. She grew up in Highland and graduated from Calvin College, where she met Dale de Haan. They married in 1956 and shared 65 years of marriage and a remarkable life together.
She was a devoted mother and grandmother, accomplished artist, teacher, foreign service officer and real estate professional.
Ruth’s professional life included teaching, serving as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, and later as a New York real estate professional. Art, however, remained a constant throughout her life. She had been painting, primarily in watercolor, since the 1960s and worked creating nature scenes and buildings inspired by her travels and the beauty of Florida.
Anna Maria Island held a special place in the family’s story as far back as the 1960s. In 1976, Ruth and Dale put down roots on the island, beginning a connection that would last for decades.
In Holmes Beach, Ruth was a member of the Artists’ Guild. She also belonged to the Holmes Beach book club, volunteered with community landscaping projects, and served as a turtle watch volunteer. In her younger years, she was an avid tennis player. Her studio in Holmes Beach was in the building that is now the Doctors Office Cocktail Bar.
Mrs. de Haan was devoted to St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.
She lived a long, adventurous, creative, and deeply loving life. She will be profoundly missed by her family, friends and all those whose lives she touched.
She is survived by her children, Stuart and Catie, and her grandson, Taro.
Anna Maria Galati
Anna Maria Galati, 87, of Holmes Beach died Sept. 23.
She was the beloved matriarch, heart and foundation of the Galati family.
Anna Maria was born in New Rochelle, New York, where, as a young woman, she met the love of her life, Michael Anthony Galati.
Together, they began building the life and family that would become their greatest legacy. In 1968, Anna Maria and Michael moved their family to Florida, where they began to build their family business.
She was a woman of remarkable strength with an unwavering work ethic, always willing to do whatever was needed for her family and the business.
“Non” always reminded her family of “the circle of life.” Her family will carry her memory and legacy forward in the way she taught us, as a family.
A funeral service will be private. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Galati is survived by her children: Joseph and wife Jennifer, Carmine and wife Jane, Frances, Michael Jr. and wife Mary, and Christopher and wife Kellie; sister, Carol LaBarbara; 12 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
Ed Steenstra
Ed Steenstra, 74, of Longboat Key and formerly of Anna Maria, died Sept. 23.
He was born Sept. 10, 1951, in Paterson, New Jersey.
He was shaped by the water surrounding the island community he loved.
He treasured his early days of island life and was closely involved with the Anna Maria Island Community Center, where he taught sailing and helped young athletes in football and T-ball.
His involvement grew over the years, taking him from assistant director to service on the center board.
Plants were part of his family story. His family owned Florida Garden Nursery in Holmes Beach and he carried that interest with him, becoming a certified master gardener.
He carried a long list of skills and pursuits he during his lifetime.
But the sea exerted perhaps the strongest pull.
He was a professional U.S. Coast Guard-licensed 100-ton master captain and accumulated plenty of stories along the way, including adventures working as a supply boat captain, serving offshore oil rigs along the Louisiana coast.
His love of sailing and racing also brought him to membership in the Sarasota Sailing Squadron.
He also enjoyed ceramics and pottery, welding, blacksmithing, reading, cooking and bicycling. He groomed Sammy, the family poodle. He enjoyed metal detecting, collected antiques and was fascinated by just about anything involving cars, boats and airplanes.
He loved to travel, but Ed wasn’t particularly interested in following a prescribed route. Wherever he went, he had a knack for finding something off the beaten path.
He also was an avid supporter of the Second Amendment and an accomplished marksman.
And he never seemed to stop learning.
Then there was football. Ed loved his Florida Gators and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
For the people who loved him, the world will indeed be a little less interesting without him.
A celebration of Ed’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Sharon and Billy’s home, 405 77th St.,
Holmes Beach.
Mr. Steenstra is survived by his companion of 30 years, Audrey Roebling, best friend George Fara; sister Sharon and her husband Bill; niece Amber; nephew Billy; great-nephew Milo; Amber’s son; his younger brother Scott; and nephews Scotty and Shaune.
His sister Amber sent a fitting farewell: “Wishing you fair skies and following seas.”