Over the course of 52 weekly issues, The Islander carried the news — tributes and notices — of people with island ties who died in 2023.
The Islander looks back over the year ended and remembers those who lived on AMI, worked on AMI and volunteered on AMI:
Francis S. Cashin, 95, of Holmes Beach, died Jan. 3. He worked for IBM as a tool and diemaker, an instructor and in engineering management positions.
Michael Jenson, 74, of Chicago and Holmes Beach, died Jan. 4. He was guided by his principle, “Go as far as you can until someone stops you.”
James Christopher “Chris” Corrigan, 63, of Bradenton, died Jan. 5. He was a talented musician who worked hard to perfect his style, a rock ’n’ roll drummer with local bands spanning many years.
Retired Naval Lt. Cmdr. John L. McDonald Jr., 89, of Bradenton and Cannon Falls, Minnesota, died Jan. 17. He was born in Cortez and was a founding member of the Florida Maritime Museum and the Cortez Village Cultural Center.
Marilyn “Meo” Diane Fox McIntosh, 80, formerly of Anna Maria Island, died Jan. 27. She was a descendant of immigrants who sailed to North America on the Mayflower in 1620.
Alan Hardy Prather, 74, died Feb. 5. He represented government entities in one capacity or another, including Manatee County, the cities of Bradenton, Bradenton Beach and Palmetto, as well as the Manatee County School Board and various special districts and corporations.
Thomas Q. McDonnell, 81, of Anna Maria Island, formerly of East Aurora, New York, died Feb. 9. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served as an intelligence officer in Maui, Hawaii, and Biloxi, Mississippi, among other places.
Suzanne “Tootie” (Kane) Baldini, 93, of Holmes Beach, died Feb. 24. She vacationed on AMI for years and made Island Village her permanent home upon retirement.
Major “Maj” Leckie, 91, of Leander, Texas, and formerly of Holmes Beach, died Feb. 26. He was known for his warm, outgoing personality and all who knew him were instantly a friend.
Patricia “Pat” Garrett, 79, of Holmes Beach and Portland, Maine, died March 2. She was a biochemist who conducted cutting-edge research on HIV/AIDS.
Stephen “Steve” Alton Schmidt, 66, formerly of Holmes Beach, died March 4. He was a newspaper man and publisher. While living in Holmes Beach, he launched Better Living magazine for The New York Times.
Robert John Hubler, 72, of Bradenton, died March 9. He was known by many as the “House Doctor” and was always willing to give advice.
Daryl Van Ostenbridge, 87, a Chicago native and longtime resident of Anna Maria Island, died March 16. She was a retired nurse, avid reader and huge baseball fan.
Billy “Bill” L. Rouse, 75, of Holmes Beach, died March 21. He enjoyed having a beer with friends.
Priscilla Barranger, 95, formerly of Holmes Beach, died March 26. She volunteered with Meals on Wheels, the Roser Church thrift shop and Here’s to You at Blake Medical Center.
Renal Belanger Hook, 94, of Bradenton and formerly of Anna Maria, died April 8. He took adventures across six continents.
Benjamin Stewart, 50, of Boulder, Colorado, and formerly of Holmes Beach, died April 9. He coached many youth sports teams at the Center of Anna Maria Island.
Marylou Kelley, 62, of Holmes Beach, died April 10. She was a member of the Bradenton Beach public works team.
Ernie Schneevogl, 88, of Holmes Beach, died April 12. In retirement, he enjoyed working in the yard, drum-and-bugle corps music, aviation and keeping up with the local fishing community over breakfast.
Mark M. Pastorius, 65, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, died April 30. He had a love for the open road, riding his motorcycle and visits to family in Cortez.
Jeffrey “JT” Edward Tarr, 65, of Bradenton, died April 30. He was an artist who also had a long career in the service industry, including at the Beach Bistro and Blue Marlin.
Lou Carson, 58, of Holmes Beach, died May 2. She worked at Moore’s Stone Crab Restaurant on Longboat Key and the Ugly Grouper.
John Shaughnessy, 88, formerly of Bradenton Beach, died May 4. He served as mayor 2011-13. He also served as a commissioner for six years.
Hugh G. Holmes, 96, of Holmes Beach, died May 8. He was a founder and CEO of Island Bank, owned and operated Holmes Construction Co. until the early 1970s and headed up the construction of many houses, motels, condominiums and commercial buildings on the island.
Bradley Keith Olson, 58, died May 8. He worked at many restaurants on the island and told many a story — some pretty unbelievable.
Loretta Jo Tupin, 68, of Bradenton, died May 15. She mostly was known as a passionate restaurateur, always providing delicious meals and going out of her way to make people smile.
William L. “Bill” Snow, 98, of Anna Maria, died May 15. He was a lover of airplanes and boats.
Barbara Janice (Vaughn) Baker, 84, of Bradenton, died May 15. She was a partner in Anna Maria Island Resorts and served on the Manatee County Tourist Development Council.
Dr. Robert A. Gryboski of Holmes Beach died May 17. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War as chief medical officer aboard the USS Estes and then as medical officer at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, California.
Miriam Victoria Trotter (nee Lopez DeArmas), 86, of Parkville, Maryland, died May 17, after suffering injuries in a crash in Holmes Beach. She was a proud civil servant of 47 years with Veterans Affairs.
Stacey M. Boone, 57, of Bradenton, died May 19. She worked for A Paradise Realty in Holmes Beach.
Jack Rodger Fiske, 89, of Anna Maria, died May 26. He spent his life at sea as a Merchant Marine.
Sharon Ann Danna Lutz, 61, of Holmes Beach, died May 26. She spent most of her career in the legal field.
Robert Joseph Schindler, 79, of Perico Island, died July 8. He published an action adventure/historical fiction “Montooth” book series under the pen name Robert Jay.
Pamela “Pam” June DiUlio, 75, of Bradenton, died July 12. She was owner/operator of Snips Hair Design in Anna Maria for more than 20 years.
Francine N. Slack, 86, formerly of Anna Maria Island, died July 19. She was an enthusiastic member of the Democratic Women’s Club, Island and West Manatee Democratic Club and the League of Women voters.
Wanda Lavonia Fulford, 90, of Cortez, died July 23. She was a proud native of the Cortez community and of her commercial fishing heritage.
John Mark Watkins, 64, of Bradenton Beach, died July 23. He spent much of his professional life in construction.
Walter E. “Turk” Surko Jr., 87, of Holmes Beach, died July 27. He invented devices for the lock and door industry with 20 patents.
Kim Bobo, 65, of Holmes Beach, died July 28. She helped generations of island kids with their speech skills as the speech pathologist at AME.
Luciana DiClemente, 89, of Holmes Beach, died July 30. She was a highly accomplished classic painter, sculptor, knitter, passionate gardener and wonderful cook.
James F. Hamilton, 92, of Bradenton and formerly of Holmes Beach, died July 31. He was active in the Key Royale Club and enjoyed investing and trading in the stock market.
Jeff W. George, 58, of Anna Maria, died Aug. 8. He loved to spend time sailing on his boat with family and friends.
Jay B. Myers, 66, of Holmes Beach, died Aug. 12. He wrote three books about his experiences in life and business: “Keep Swinging,” “Hitting the Curveballs” and “Rounding Third and Heading for Home.”
Jeffrey Evan Murray, 71, of Anna Maria, died Sept. 8. He built a significant number of custom homes and the city pier during his career.
Kenneth “Kenny” Butler, 66, of Bradenton and formerly of Anna Maria Island, died Sept. 19. He was nominated as a Golf magazine Top 100 Teacher.
Barbara Carol (Wolfe) Harrold, 77, a winter resident of Anna Maria Island, died Sept. 27. Her forte was interior design.
Gino DiClemente, 91, of Michigan, died Oct. 14. He “discovered” AMI in 1981, became a snowbird and then was a 12-year resident.
Jeanne Fay (Frankenfield) Shirk, 86, of Bradenton and formerly of Anna Maria, died Oct. 16. She was a huge fan of the Tampa Bay Rays, the New York Giants and was a regular participant in The Islander football pool.
Martha Sue Wright, 70, of Cortez, died Oct. 20. She was the first female member of the Crewe of Hernando DeSoto and served as president.
Christina Maria Horvat, 89, of Anna Maria, died Oct. 29. She was proud of her Paauw family heritage and often shared stories of growing up in Hoorn, Holland, during World War II.
Jacqueline Danzer Pepka, 75, of Bradenton and formerly of Anna Maria, died Oct. 30. She became a cherished friend and devoted caretaker to many who crossed her path.
Sylvia Louise Marie Manion, 89, a longtime winter resident of Anna Maria, died Nov. 3. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, community organizer, social planner and volunteer clown for sick kids.
Mary Elizabeth O’Connell Rose Robinson, 79, formerly of Holmes Beach, died Nov. 11. She made children’s toys and was an accomplished landscape artist and sculptor.
Joshua Paul “Ike” Eisenhauer, 42, of Anna Maria, died Nov. 14. He received many medals and ribbons for his military service.
Dave “Watchdog” Miner, 77, of Bradenton, died Nov. 17. He served eight years on the School District of Manatee Board and was a leader in establishing Manatee’s first Child Abuse Prevention Program and creating METV.
Connor Patrick Johnson, 22, of Gillett, Wisconsin, and formerly of Anna Maria, died Nov. 25. He was a devoted father to his daughter, Chloe.
Adrienne A. Fischer, 99, formerly of Holmes Beach, died Nov. 26, She enjoyed golf and picnicked at the beach with friends, new and old, from Coquina Beach to Bean Point.
Linda Louise Massimo, 71, of Bradenton, died Dec. 5. Her career path led her to condominium management, including at Mount Vernon in Cortez.
Eugene “Gene” Edwards Aubry, 87, of Palmetto and formerly of Anna Maria, died Dec. 9. He was an acclaimed architect, artist and musician and served in Anna Maria government, including as commissioner.
John Kenney, 69, died Dec. 9. His professional journey led him to serve the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, where he pursued justice for more than three decades and reached the rank of sergeant and worked as a homicide detective.
Cynthia Ann Richmond, 70, of Bradenton and formerly of Anna Maria, died Dec. 14. She volunteered for Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and joined the Anna Maria Island Garden Club.
James “Jim” Patrick Kronus III, 82, of Bradenton died Dec. 18. He served 25 years as principal at Anna Maria Elementary, retiring in January 1999.