Honoring Ronnie Craven
Ronnie Craven of High Point and Rocky Mount , North Carolina was:
A. Warm, free-spirited, jovial, brilliant country musician who composed songs and could play just about any instrument that came alone
B. A crop duster who when he was not working on fields of soybeans was dusting off beverages with his friends
C. A sportsman who loved animals, especially his long time dog buddy Scooter
D. A creative Chef who love preparing North Carolina Barbecue and all the fixings that went along with it
E. A loving Son to his Mother and Father of the nation's foremost decorator of motorcycles, Jeff Craven.
Honoring Paul Newman
Honoring Donna Ruebruling Burton
Honoring Howard "Howie" Harris
Honoring Fran Ford
Ann-Francis Dale Barker Ford
Mrs. Ford to the young kids, Fran Ford, Frannie
Born January 16, 1923, in Providence, Rhode Island, she was the daughter of Brigadier General Harold Richards and Beatrice Winter Barker.
She married Lt. Cdr. William Render Ford on July 20th 1945.
They had 4 children, David and his wife Pamela of Newport; Thomas and his wife Greta of Key West; Dale of Cambridge; and Richards and his wife Mimi of Winter Park
Of her numerous activities she was
An excellent cook.
President of Key West Audubon Society
Lifetime Member of Key West Art and Historical Society
Lifetime Member of Florida Keys Land and Sea Trust
Commissioner on the board of the Key West Tree Commission
Active Member of Key West Garden Club
Active Member of Key West Botanical Garden
Active Member of Last Stand
Active Member of the Nature Conservancy
Active Member of Naval Retired Officer Wives Club
Active Member of Junior League
Active Supporter of Florida Keys Mangrove Terrapin Study
Active Supporter of the Sonny McCoy Indigenous Park
Active Supporter of Little Hamaca State Park
Active Supporter of Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park
Active Supporter of Ft. Jefferson National Park
Active Supporter of historical Key West Cemetery
Creator of the Whistling Duck Pond,
Co-Owner and Operator of Sea Store at 614 Greene St., Key West
Honoring Betsy Dietz
Betsy S. Dietz was a very special lady. Betsy attended and volunteered for almost every amazing event in the Key West community. From serving on the board of directors of AIDS Help, Bahama Village Music Program and many other worthy organizations to founding some of Key West's favorite fundraising events like the Royal Campaign of Fantasy Fest and "Taste of Key West," Betsy was always helping those less fortunate. Betsy's smile, her zest for life and a "we can do this" approach is irreplaceable. Betsy was an amazing firecracker of a lady and we miss her.
Honoring Maggie Iacopucci
Maggie Iacopucci
Beloved wife, sister, aunt and friend
Honoring Peter Bernhart
Honoring Jim Lauritzen
Honoring Miriam Standhardt
Honoring Donna Dalton
Donna Dalton was a passionate, sensitive being who touched many with her quick smile, free spirit, and generous nature. She made people laugh with her fun and quirky sense of humor, and shared her warmth and open heart easily with those known and unknown. She took great pride working as a carpenter and painter, swinging a hammer with gusto until the age of sixty. She also attended Florida Keys Community College, attaining her certificate in Drug and Alcohol Counseling, further deepening and sharing her compassionate nature.
Donna made Key West her home in the early 90s, and delighted in sharing her enthusiasm about the island with visitors and locals alike. On Sundays you could find her reading and relaxing in her hammock at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and swimming in the ocean’s warm waters. Song filled her home and her heart— Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Brown, Chris Isaak, Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, Emmylou Harris, The Eagles, Van Morrison, and Elton John are just a few of her musical heroes that helped define her outlook on life.
She studied the Farmer’s Almanac and Pagan ways, holding a firm resolve regarding the magic of nature. She also bowed deeply to the Catholic church and attended mass as a child and later at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea. She believed in the soul. She believed in love. She believed in One Human Family.
Carpe Diem and Blessed Be. You will always be loved & missed.
Honoring Olga Carito
Olga Carito loved Key West when she had a chance to visit in the 1990’s. She particularly loved purchasing shopping bags full of used books at the Monroe Library sale and then sweet-talking the postmaster into personally packing them into boxes for her to ship home.
Olga was born in the Italian North End of Boston and only spoke Italian when she started school. She became the first in her family to graduate college and in her first job was a “computer.” Similarly to the women in “Hidden Figures,” she led a team of mathematicians at MIT who did the calculations for the early work on the laser.
Olga broke from work to marry, raise a family of six kids, and involve herself in her community. In her forties, when her kids were older, she became a teacher, learned to drive, and earned a Masters Degree in Mathematics.
At age 60, recently widowed, Olga found herself touring through Maine with a friend, winding up their day at a bed and breakfast in Boothbay Harbor. When she heard the owner and his guests commiserating about him putting the place up for sale, she looked around and announced, “I’ll buy it.”
Being the owner and hostess of The Seafarer Inn was the business she was born to run. Endlessly charming, a lover of people, and proud of her hearty breakfast, Olga entertained countless visitors, most of whom refused to depart without a hug and a kiss.
After her health declined, Olga moved back to the Boston area where she loved to spend time with her family, grandkids, and playing cards with friends.
Olga loved beauty of all kinds - particularly music, art, and flowers. She sang throughout the day and in church choirs and always maintained large gardens. She had a great love for history and books, was a wicked Scrabble player, and an ardent Democrat. She loved her church, had her own special relationship with Jesus Christ, and was particularly devoted to the Blessed Mother.
Olga died on January 27, 2017. Her family misses her every day.
Honoring Robert Smith
Robert Joseph Smith (8/17/87 - 10/31/16)
Rob was taken from us much too early in a tragic accident in October 2016. He was born in Walnut Creek, CA in 1987 and was a true sports fan. He played both soccer and baseball (pitcher, catcher & shortstop) and started skiing at an early age and loved to snowboard as well. Rob always enjoyed getting out of town and going on vacation - camping, swimming, boating, canoeing and kayaking – he loved to spend time with friends and family. Rob was a good young man, a wonderful friend and a great brother. Rest In Peace, dearest Rob.
Honoring Beverly Greycarek
Died 10/25/17 at age 86 from Manitowoc Wi. Marred 1950 to Vernon. Beverly had 4 children, 7 grandchildern and 8 great grandchildren. She enjoyed doing volunteer work for the community. Best Friend!
Honoring Ralph "Chip" Elliott
Chip was: (1)appalachian trail hiker, (2)construction entrepreneur,(3) loving father of two daughters and one son, (4) humanitarian visionary, (5) caregiver of the animal kingdom, (6) wilderness adventurer. (7) camping guru, (8) cross country traveler, and last but certainly not least (9) connoisseur of good food and drink so it's most appropriate that we honor his spiritual passage by including him in the second line parade.
Honoring Purple Sandy Kibler
Purple Sandy Kibler, 72, left this plateau peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018.
Born July 15, 1945, she was a quintessential Key West character, having migrated here in the mid-1970s from Bloomington, Indiana after spending time in Wisconsin and Illinois. Her birthday was always quite the Key West occasion.
In true Key West style, upon arrival, she lived in a treehouse on Waddell Street and would hold a collection of jobs as diverse and eclectic as the island she chose to call home. Sandy’s employment history through the years takes longtime Key Westers on an amusingly nostalgic journey through Old Key West: The Green Parrot Sandwich Shop, Singleton Ice, Schooner Wharf Bar, Local Color, Turtle Kraals, Half Shell Raw Bar, Big Daddy’s, The Jungle Room, Hamburger Mary’s, Key West Bar and Grill, Curly’s Ribs, and Peppers of Key West.
In addition to those jobs, she also worked as a house painter, a glassblower on Duval Street and, for a short period, a shrimp boat worker.
Sandy was a member of the Moose Lodge, where she was also an employee for a time. And she regularly paid her respects at Key West’s legendary Tree Of Knowledge.
At one point, Sandy hitchhiked away from Key West with plans to work on the Alaskan Oil Pipeline. Fortunately, engine trouble somewhere around Indiana made her second-guess her Arctic adventure, and brought her back to her adopted island home.
She is survived by her son, Dylan Kibler, of Key West, and her daughter, Adrienne (Tony) McGargill, of Papillon, Nebraska and she reveled in her role of “Silly Grandma” to her three beloved grandchildren, Hailey, Kalvin, and Macey. Sandy is also survived by her siblings Robert Stevens and Vada Waller. She leaves behind a host of far-flung friends too numerous to name, but all who knew this passionate and intense free-spirit have countless great recollections of their friend.
She cherished and honored her Native American heritage and was known for her willingness to share her opinions on any topic that captured her attention. Purple Sandy was a strong, independent and one-of-a-kind woman who will be missed by so many whose paths intersected hers.
In loving memory of Purple Sandy Kibler whose presence and passion enriched our lives and made their indelible mark on our memory.
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings have a human experience.”
Honoring Chuck "Cheech" Engel
Charles (Chuck) Victor Engel was born Aug. 3, 1944 in Dayton, Ohio and passed Jan. 2016 in Rockledge Fl. He moved the family to Florida from Columbus, Ohio in 1977. Nicknamed Cheech by Carol Minnich, a 2017 Honoree and long-time friend, he enjoyed his life and the times spent in Key West. He loved his family and friends, learning new things, gave generously of himself, and never lost his sense of humor. An avid space program fan, he owned and operated Shuttle Moving & Stg. In Titusville, Fl. in the 80s. He was a member of the Rotary Club, and volunteered for "Meals on Wheels" and "Big Brothers Big Sisters". Like Carol, he suffered much pain but with great dignity.
Chuck and wife, Marguerita, celebrated their 50th Anniversary on Dec. 29, 2015 with a large party of loved ones. He will be forever missed by his wife, his three children and their families, all his relatives, and all his friends! His spirit lives on in joy and laughter!
Honoring Ruth Gunn
Ruth Elizabeth Gunn was born in Key West, FL on November 6th, 1926. She attended Frederick Douglass High School and received a Bachelors degree from Oakwood College in 1951. Ruth Gunn spent the rest of her life dedicating herself to the education of the children of Key West. If any child or family was in need, Ruth Gunn was there with food, clothing, shelter, and the gift of literacy, even at 91 years young. Mrs. Gunn remains close to all of our hearts as we continue our work in her name.
As Mrs. Gunn would say: "Don't be sorry, be different!"
Honoring Jon Selikoff
Jon was a mensch. So agree all of his friends and colleagues.
A talented designer, a loving companion to his wife Lauren, a devoted father to his son Sam, an inspiring friend.
Jon's love of music (both Bruuuuce and his wonderful son's emerging rock star talents), baseball (Yankeeeees) and design (Vote for Letterpress) were contagious. You know your friend is a part of your life when you start humming songs THEY love, cheering for their favorite team and finding reasons to come back one more time to the studio to see those drawers and drawers of letter blocks.
Jon left us on Nov 23 2017. He is still very much present in his work and his words. Our time with him was much too short but he gave us all so much. He is truly missed.