Honoring Connie Gilbert

On Sept. 4, 2016 the world lost Connie Gilbert of Key West to a stroke. She had just turned 77. Connie had an endless capacity for love and a profound desire to nurture those around her. Brilliant and complicated, Connie was committed to the fight for social justice and was active in every significant civil rights struggle in her lifetime: from resisting McCarthyism; to registering blacks to vote in the segregated South; to establishing reproductive choice and advocating equal rights for women; to the struggle for lesbian, gay and transgender equality. Connie had a sincere calling to leave the world a kinder and fairer place than she found it, and she committed her life to being a voice for those who were silenced, a shield to those who were oppressed and a sword for justice.

Her gifts extended beyond politics. As an artistic spirit, Connie was a lifelong patron of the arts and an accomplished writer, publishing many works of fiction, poetry and journalism. She also appeared in summer stock theater, worked backstage on Broadway and participated in local arts performances.

Personally, Connie was a dynamo with endless love and warmth packed into an improbably small body. To her, kindred souls were more than friends, they were her spiritual family. Because of this, she mastered the art of friendship and her extended family spread throughout the entire country. She is survived by her two biological sons, Devin Gilbert Neiss, a gifted musician in San Diego and Shad G. Neiss, a lawyer in Key West also committed to the struggle for social justice. She is also survived by members of a loving, adopted family too numerous to list.

Rather than mourn her loss, Connie wanted friends and family to celebrate her life, the beauty in the world, and to hold her memory in their hearts.

Honoring Leonard Cohen

CASL 2017 Special Honoree

On Monday, November 7, 2016, Leonard Cohen, Canadian poet and novelist, singer and songwriter, and inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, passed in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 82. We at CASL feel particularly connected, not just to the beautiful songs he composed over the decades, many being part of our life’s tapestry of sound, including Bird on the Wire, Suzanne,and the emblematic, and oft-covered, Hallelujah, because Richard Crooks toured with Cohen for many years and recorded with him on the studio album Dear Heather.

During Richard’s later days with us, Leonard Cohen reached out by phone to check up on Richard. CASL was lucky enough to be in the room on one such occasion and overheard an ordinary, friend talking to friend, what’s new with you, and yet loving conversation. Such was their relationship.

So, with honor and great respect, Leonard Cohen is the Crooks Annual Second Line’s special honoree for CASL Day, 2017! We miss Richard, we miss Leonard and we miss all of our honorees, however we are comforted by the belief that all of them, performers and audience alike, are having one helluva time up in the heavens, making loving music that shines upon us all.

Honoring Barbara Franki

Barbara Franki, age 68, passed away on Thursday, January 7, 2016 Born in Brooklyn, NY. Barbara was a retired cosmetic chemist, a Realtor, and Past Exalted Ruler of the East Brunswick Elks - one of the very first women to accede to that position. Barbara also owned an entertainment company and Italian Ice company, and loved to travel abroad. Barbara is survived by her husband, Rod; son, John; brothers, Chris and Tom; sisters, Maryanne and Roni. Barbara's spent a great deal of time in Key West where she relished floating and boating at Marvin Key and off Boca Chica beach, for that matter boating anywhere in The Keys, and enjoyed the abundance of arts and entertainment offered in Key West.

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Honoring Kathy Hughes

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Kathy Hughes, a native of Monterey, California, was a regular visitor to Key West for over 30 years. Widowed after 20 years of marriage, she raised 4 children and ran a very successful family business in Aptos, California. In 1987, Kathy married Gary Hughes and together they shared 9 children, 18 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. On one of their trips to Key West, Kathy and Gary met a fellow native of the Northern California Bay Area, the great Richard Crooks. The joy of listening to Richard play and watching him perform highlighted every visit. Friendships were formed that literally lasted lifetimes. Kathy passed away unexpectedly and beautifully on June 22, 2016, in the Monterey Bay village of Aptos. Her ashes were scattered there and on the ocean outside Louie's Backyard.

Honoring Carol Forbes

Carol was a free spirit. She was a sister, daughter, mother, spouse and grandmother. Carol loved life and traveled with her partner Eric extensively. Carol was always the life of the party, and was one of the first people on the dance floor shaking her butt! Although she didn't graduate until she was middle-aged, she went on to become a literacy teacher and won the literacy award of BC in 2004. She formed great bonds with her students, and was great at putting people at ease. She didn't know how to look down on people and everyone was given an open heart, big smile and a warm hug when they came in the door. Carol loved nature and spent many weekends camping or fishing and every afternoon in their spacious backyard relaxing and watching the bald eagles that nested there. She was a great cook, a great mom, and an even better grandmother and the world dimmed a little when she left it.

Honoring Dave Duncan

David Hoxie Duncan, beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend to all, passed away peacefully on April 27th after a long illness. Born on February 18, 1944 in Denver Colorado to Horace and Mary Alice Duncan, Dave grabbed life by the horns and thought himself a true American cowboy. 

A storyteller by nature, Dave could weave you a yarn that would please the king. From fantastic tales of his years in the hospitality industry, (including a summer at the Stanley Hotel, famous from the movie "The Shining") to stories of his childhood at "784 St Paul" Dave could regale a crowd and keep them laughing. A brilliant mind with a love of knowledge, Dave could rattle off important historical dates and movie quotes like an encyclopedia. 

After suffering a spinal cord injury in 1988, Dave showed his indomitable spirit and regained mobility, returned to school and started a new life and career for himself. Despite his disability, Dave would take his children horse back riding, to amazing classic rock concerts, and always meeting friends on Fridays for dinner and a movie. Dave loved books, old westerns (especially John Wayne), tv crime dramas, shopping, classic rock music, Star Trek and Star Wars and his love was contagious through his immense enthusiasm and excitement. He never missed a Phil Collins air drum solo when his lucky song came on the radio. 

Dave's reason for living was his children, whom he loved with all his heart. No matter his personal life challenges he always made sure his children felt his unconditional love. He instilled in them the ability and courage to try anything, and made them feel like the most beautiful, intelligent and important people on the planet. He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren and that pride gives them strength. 

May the Force be with him.

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Honoring Jimmy Davis

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A.K.A. "J.D. and "Mangrove Jim"

Jimmy lost a courageous battle with esophageal cancer on May 16, 2016. He was born on April 16, 1950 in Port St. Joe, Florida. He graduated from Florida State University after proudly enlisting and serving for 3 years in the United States Army, Military Police, 101st Airborne. 

He and his wife Anita owned their outdoor furniture business in Kingston, NY and worked side by side for 25 years. Jimmy had a creative talent to design and build many unique custom pieces. 

He and Anita enjoyed traveling and drove by way of the old 7 Mile Bridge in the mid-1970's to solve their curiosity about the Keys. They became longtime residents of the Keys where they raised their two daughters, Summer Rose and Amber Rose. He and Anita played music and entertained throughout the Keys for many years at Boondocks, Sugarloaf Lodge, Looe Key Tiki, Sunshine Key Resort, Key West and Big Pine Moose Lodge, Marathon American Legion, Galway Bay, Venture Out Resort, and many other venues.

Jimmy was an avid spear fisherman and enjoyed spending his time spearing mangrove snapper in the backcountry, He became known to many as "Mangrove Jim." He also loved cooking outdoors, eating raw oysters, and drinking cold beer. He was a dedicated Florida State football fan and enjoyed tailgating and FSU games with his family.

He loved everyone, had the best sense of humor, and was the life of every party. He was the most giving person and was always willing to lend a helping hand to ANYONE. His advice to everyone would be to live life to the fullest like he did because, as he would say, "We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time.

Honoring Carole Gerbracht

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Carole became a beautiful angel at the young age of 5 years. In her short life she showed her creative talents from painting and drawing to cooking. She loved drawing, painting and sculpting and her skill was far beyond her years. She was also very mischievous from egging her older sister on to pretend they were taking a bath when they were actually playing all the while running the bath water. To mooning the Conch Train (much to her mother's horror), and yes she did get in trouble for that - spent some time in time-out. She was a generous soul loving nothing more than giving people flowers. Born in Key West she loved the water either spending hours in the pool with friends to snorkeling and boating. Even at her young age there was no doubt she was living life to the fullest, having the best time with her family and lots of friends. We love her and miss her to this very day beyond words can say.