Honoring Norma Gilmore

Norma Gilmore

FEBRUARY 14, 1944 – DECEMBER 18, 2022

Norma Gilmore, born Norma Jean Amore on February 14, 1944 in Coshocton,

Ohio. She was one of three children to J. Herbert Amore and Gertrude Roahrig

Amore and remembered by her two sisters, Carol Van Auken and Ellen Gray. She

was a loving wife to Charles Roy Gilmore, deceased in January 2019. She departed

this earthly life on Sunday, December 18, 2022 at the age of 78.

She is survived by her son, Anthony (Jodi); and grandchildren, Nicholas and Ashley.

Norma was a wonderful step-mother and was loved dearly by her step-children,

Robert (Lisa), David (Kathy) and Elizabeth Hartsock (Harry); step-grandchildren,

Matthew, Kelly, Mindy, Jessica, Michael, and Sarah; she was loved by all of her

great-grandchildren.

She was involved in many activities that included square dancing, scuba diving,

travel, bicycling, bridge, painting, and social clubs. She was a woman that made you

feel like a dear friend from the time you met her. She is known for her elaborate

costumes with her Key West friends. They were creative, full of color, and inspired

many memories. Norma loved an adventure. Her travels included China, Europe,

and many other countries. She loved Key West and Key West loved her.

Gifts in lieu of flowers may be made in Norma’s memory to St. Jude’s Children

Research Hospital. Give your way to help kids with cancer

at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html.

Norma will be laid to rest in The Woodlands, Texas. There will be a Celebration of

her Life in late March in Key West.

Honoring George Evelyn Caffrey

Ms. George Evelyn Caffrey
01/03/1948 to March 20, 2021


On the first day of spring, March 20, 2021, my best friend in the world, Ms. George Evelyn Caffery, left this world. She had been beset by a stroke, back on November 8, 2020.
She had been working hard to recover, but the effects just proved too much.
George was the original red-headed, freckle faced, firecracker. She was known to many locally as “Girl George”. As a child, she was so cute; she could have been a Cambell’s Soup model.
George, who was named for her Aunt George, who was, herself, named for her Grandfather George, reportedly, because they had two generations of girls born, and just decided that the next child would be George, regardless of gender.
My Girl George was born an army brat, in Heidelberg, Germany. She traveled with her family to numerous postings, and fondly remembered her steamship trip back to the U.S.
Her family settled in the Orlando area, where George attended high school.
During her high school career, George was in an all-girl rock and roll band, The Shambles, with her buddies Kayo, Mick, and Barb, rocking several exciting gigs in the central Florida area.
After high school, George attended Ringling College, and graduated with a fine arts degree.
George spent the Viet Nam years in Canada, first with the father of her two sons, Jack Vann (Vann) Caffery, and Jess Caffery, then as a single mom.
She migrated back to Florida with her second husband, Mark, landing in Key West in 1980.
For a short time, she was part of a cooperative art gallery on Greene Street.
She then turned to retail sales. Her reputation for comfort shoe expertise and hats went on for years.
She then turned to fine art framing, being a fixture at Ben Franklin Crafts for several years, then with Alan Maltz Gallery, sharing the fine framing duties with her buddy, Shane.
My Girl George was an accomplished seamstress, who made most of what she wore. Her stitchery was always precise, neat, and complete.
On our first Christmas together, I thought I would buy her a dress. Never again would I make that mistake, as she was hard to fit and most particular. On the rare occasion when we would be shopping and she found something that she actually approved of, it would mean an immediate purchase by me for her.
She was also an accomplished bead weaver. Her intricate jewels were, like the rest of her work, precise, measured, colorful, and exquisitely rendered.
George loved the red rocks of New Mexico, Boca Chica Beach, and her large group of friends.
For the past several years, George has tended a tiny English garden in our front yard, with all kinds of whatever flowers had caught her fancy, with quite variable results, but always soothing in execution.
George is survived by her two sons, Vann Caffery, his partner, Marisa Compton, her other son, Jess Caffery, his partner, Valarie Lauritzen, and George’s partner, Phil Tannura.
She is also survived by her cousins Christina and Rick, and countless friends and acquaintances here and abroad.
We are planning an outdoor, safe, celebration of her life (George would not want us to be unsafe in these times) on April 1, 2021, at Windsor Castle, 720 Windsor Lane, from around six to eight in the evening.
We plan to block off Galveston Lane at the Windsor Lane entrance for the celebration.
My time with my Girl George was just so sweet! I will always remember her smile.
I will love her all my life! Please stop by if you can!

Honoring Joe Dallas, Sr.

Joe Dallas Sr.

Joe Dallas Sr., jazz trombonist and adjunct jazz faculty member at Duquesne University had a long and varied career. He performed with artists such as Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Sammy Davis, Jr., Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, Neal Hefti, Frank Sinatra, Jr., and Michelle Le Grand. He performed in the world Premiere Jazz Ballet “The Great Gatsby”, conducted by Guenther Schuller; made guest appearances on “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” and other PBS specials; is a former member of the Si Zenter Band at the Tropicana in Las Vegas; was artist in residence and jazz trombone teacher for the Clark Terry International Institute of Jazz at Westmar University in LeMars, Iowa, and was clinician and guest performer at Frostburg State College in Maryland and SUNY in Binghamton, New York, among many others. Local Pittsburgh performances include the John Wilson Big Band, the Joe Negri Quartet, Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners, and many jazz venues including performances for the Pittsburgh Jazz Society.
Joe was also a member of the Paradise Big Band in Key West, Florida, the Key West Pops, and he appeared frequently in shows and jazz performances in Key West although he was mostly a Pittsburgh-based jazz musician. Joe produced a jazz CD which featured himself, his son Joe Dallas Jr. and many of the best jazz performers in Pittsburgh and Key West.
Joe was born in Pittsburgh in 1939, and he started playing trombone when he was in sixth grade. Within a couple of years, he became a student of the renowned trombone teacher, Matty Shiner. He attended Morehead University in Kentucky on a full music scholarship, taught public school music and gave private lessons in Kentucky and Pittsburgh for many years while continuing to perform.

Honoring Bob Wandras, Jr.

Bob was born in Norfolk, VA on May 30, 1956. As a child, he was told all the Memorial Day parades were in celebration of his birthday. What a lucky guy to have such special memories. As a young man, he went in search of adventure. He served in the US Navy as a culinary specialist, cooking on the aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz. After his service he lived in Alaska for a time, set up camps and cooked for the Army Corp of Engineers on the Aleutian Islands as well as cooking on Off Shore oil rigs. When he finally tired of the long, cold, dark nights of Alaska, he sought the warmth and sunshine of Key West. It was here that he found his safe spot in the world. It was here that he worked as a cook, sponger, lighthouse keeper, caregiver, landscaper and generator technician. As a cook, Bob served up delicious food with a smile on his face, a side of kindness and a story to tell. Whether pedaling his bike-boat to the water’s edge or sailing it around the island, you can bet he was smiling. He always found time to stop and chat or lend a helping hand. Bob always made time to be kind , he made time to be helpful and he made time to shine his light for all to see. Bob was one of a kind and the world was the better for it. “They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed. - Maya Angelou (from the poem, When Great Trees Fall)

Honoring Mark Zynda

Mark was born and raised in Chicago and came to Key West some two decades ago. He was a popular hairdresser, artist and comedian. He will be best remembered for working at the Anchors Aweigh Club house as an assistant to the manager where he served hot coffee, meals and literature to those seeking a new way of life. When you got a cup of coffee from Mark, it always came with a smile and a corny joke. Mark’s dream was to open a hair cutting school. His friends hope that in his new life, his dream has come true.