Throughout the years of writing these newsletters, I’ve often shared my love for the summer months and all the activities that occurred during that time of the year. While my father loved the fall, I wasn’t nearly as enamored with it as the fall brought to a close my favorite time of year and was the precursor to the harsh winter weather yet to come. Having moved to Florida twenty-five years ago from New York, I felt God gave me a reward to enjoy the season I loved most on a year-round basis. Like many, I envisioned myself boating, golfing, and going to the beach whenever I wanted. What better way to enjoy the quality of life I always dreamed of? As for hurricanes, what hurricanes? I encountered them before; how much worse could they be in Florida if we ever did get one?
It was September 2001, and we were in our home for a year when we encountered our first storm. Not having the sophisticated meteorologist and radar we have today, I noticed it was getting breezy and had no idea what was on its way. A friend of mine said, “Are you ready for Gabrielle?” I replied, “We never met; who is she?” Sensing my ignorance, my friend replied, “Get ready; you’ll meet her in a few hours.” Little did I realize I would be trading in hors d’oeuvres for hours trying to lower the Bahama shutters we had. That was nature’s way of spoon-feeding me the storms that were yet to come.
Having lived on the water most of my life, I vividly recollect Hurricanes Agnes and Gloria years later impacting Long Island, where yachts of all sizes were strewn over the island beaches. While it was a very sobering reminder of man’s weakness in contrast to nature’s strength, those experiences paled by comparison to the destructive forces we’ve encountered since moving to Florida 25 years ago.
It seems like yesterday when Hurricane Charlie impacted our area, and we stood in disbelief, seeing many of our homes and communities lying in ruin. I initially thought this was something we were only supposed to see on TV, not experience first-hand, as camera crews, National Guard troops, Florida’s Governor Jeb Bush, and other responders descended on our area. It was also our first encounter with the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore, who, after all these years of visits to our area, may want to consider a permanent residence! Perhaps it is like a boxer getting a punch that sends him to the canvas but has the heart and desire to pick himself back up to continue the fight, and that is what we did.
Since then, we have encountered a host of other hurricanes and tropical storms, including the recent back-to-back hurricanes of Helene and Milton, and through it all, I am overwhelmed by the resiliency of our community, our neighbors, and our restaurant and store owners who have picked up the pieces and are forging ahead.
I have found that through these storms, there are many life lessons to be learned. Unfortunately, there will always be those who plan for Armageddon and clear out store shelves of the basic necessities or take enough gas to get them to the moon and back, never considering the needs of others. For most of us, they are a sobering reminder of what is important in life. We have built stronger bonds with friends, neighbors, and loved ones in their time of need. We’ve given our time and treasures to help our communities recover and supported the local businesses that have served us so well throughout the years. There was never a thought of repayment for our efforts, we were in this together.
We all get wrapped up in our day-to-day lives where we count on tomorrow to get together with friends or make the call that is long overdue. I’m as guilty as it seems, like years pass like months and weeks pass like days, only to have these storms put life in a different perspective. My most vivid reminder of the importance of our relationships was during Hurricane Charlie. Since we were all without power, we came out of our homes seeking relief from the heat and humidity inside and found ourselves catching up with friends and neighbors for the first time in months. Unfortunately, once power was restored, we returned to our homes and resumed our way of life, where we offered a simple wave as we passed.
Some may feel it is time to turn the page and start a new chapter in their lives where these storms no longer take a physical and emotional toll on them, while others feel the quality of life Florida affords more than offsets the infrequent storms that impact our areas. To me, the lessons are learned from the pause we are forced to take during our efforts to recover.
We often think of Thanksgiving and the holidays that follow as the time of year to give thanks for the blessings we’ve received. It is also the start of a season that beckons us to be more compassionate and giving to our loved ones. While the holidays are full of promise and merriment, the storms we endure create lasting bonds, almost like those that have served together in war. We set aside our differences and give of ourselves in service to others. Isn’t that what a life well lived is supposed to be about? Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a storm to get us back on track and bring out the best in us.
While the aftermath of these storms has left many of our streets looking like Spooky Walks littered with debris and ghost-like ships that occupy some of our area parks, the appearance of Halloween costumes and soon-to-be Christmas decorations are our reminder of the enjoyment we receive from these simple pleasures life affords us. However, our recovery together, especially this year, has created a more robust community bond far more valuable than anything we could have imagined.
-Gary Cardillo
Almost two years ago, my wife signed us up as members of St. Andrew’s South Golf Club, as it occurred to her I was spending too much time sitting behind a computer or working late into the evening, and my only outlet was doing yard work. Somewhere along the way, I became my father! I wasn’t doing anything fun in my spare time. Try explaining that to someone who spends half their year bundled up during the winter months, and they’ll think you lost your mind when you live on the water and close to a host of golf courses. Sure, there are more challenging courses than St. Andrews; for years, when asked why I didn’t join, I would tease and tell them that due to the relatively flat terrain of the course, that’s where they used to host the areas Greyhound races. Now before you think, “This guy must be some golfer,” let me tell you this course has gotten the better of me in more ways than one. While St. Andrew’s South may not be hosting the U.S. Open anytime soon, this club is second to none in terms of the people we’ve met and the friends we’ve made.
One of the sweetest love stories I’ve ever known is not of a husband and wife but of a mother and daughter, and the love they share goes well beyond their bond. Anyone who has met Nanette Leonard and her mother, Adeline Seakwood, knows of their lasting contributions and passion to their chosen professions, community, and friends. Volumes have been written about their storied careers in the entertainment industry, and for someone who just celebrated her 100th birthday, Adeline’s life is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Brooklyn in 1923, she was enamored with New York City’s entertainment industry. Starting as a John Robert Powers model, she went on to appear in several films before taking on the highly skilled position as a production secretary, a title she later had the industry change to “Production Office Coordinator.” The production office was the “brain” that organized a film’s necessary functions. Adeline handled budgets, production schedules, transportation, locations, permits, equipment rentals, billing, getting catered food on set, and communicating with crew members and the actors. From her appearance in Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest,” Adeline worked on numerous TV shows that, included “Naked City,” “The Patty Duke Show,” and “The Defenders.”
She also worked on major motion pictures where she rubbed shoulders with Paul Newman, Christopher Reeve, Michael J. Fox, Farrah Fawcett, Burt Reynolds, and Peter Falk of Colombo fame. She recounts a story of a last-minute script change on the last day of shooting of “Three Days of the Condor,” starring Robert Redford. While Adeline’s role was typically off-camera and behind the scenes, she rushed to the movie set that was in Manhattan to deliver the revised pages. Spectators who were cordoned off behind the ropes wanted to know who the woman was that was delivering the script to Robert Redford, who then picked her up and kissed her. Without missing a beat, Adeline said, “that’s how rumors start.”
Nan an experienced public relations/marketing professional and producer with over 40 years in the entertainment industry began her career at Allied Artists Pictures, serving as Publicity Manager, working on PR campaigns for Academy Award-winning films that included, “Cabaret,” “The Man Who Would Be King,” and “Papillon.” At United Artists, Nan served as East Coast Director of Publicity, mounting PR campaigns on such films as “Raging Bull,” the Bond films, “The French Lieutenant’s Woman,” starring Meryl Streep, and has worked with Steve Guttenberg, Marvin Hamlisch, Alan King, Jay Leno, and Redbook Magazine. In the 80s, Nan became Senior Vice President at Solters/Roskin/Friedman, one of the largest entertainment PR firms, where she represented Whoopi Goldberg and helped launch her career. Also included in a long list of celebrities Nan represented are Dolly Parton, Gregory Peck, Frances Ruffelle (“Les Miserables”), and Anthony Crivello (Kiss of the Spider Woman). In 1992, Nanette opened her agency, “Nanette Leonard Public Relations,” servicing a diverse clientele that included two-time Tony Award-winning actress Judith Ivey, Tony Award winner Anthony Crivello, international television personality, journalist, and author, Cristina Saralegui, Michael Uslan (Executive Producer of all the Batman films) and a host of organizations that reads like a “Who’s Who.”
One would think with just a fraction of their impressive resumes I’m sharing, Adeline and Nanette would find contentment reminiscing on their extraordinary past. However, those experiences have provided a foundation for the care and service they continue to give their community and the lives they touch. Unlike the typical daughter taking care of a mother relationship; this is more like George Burns and Gracie Allen; comedian and straight man, with Adeline being the comedian. As I entered their home, I was taken aback by the hundreds of cards, flowers, and balloons from Adeline’s recent 100th birthday celebration. Among all the gifts and early Valentine’s Day decorations was a signed picture from Robert Redford, congratulating Adeline on her special day. Sensing I was somewhat overwhelmed, Adeline grabbed my arm and, pointing to Nanette, said, “You know Nurse Radchet” (of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” fame), don’t you?” I couldn’t help but laugh, knowing this would be one of my most entertaining interviews. Adeline is as quick-witted as Nanette is humble. Each time Nanette would leave the room to answer one of the many calls she received, Adeline would proudly share Nan’s accomplishments and tell me how proud she is of all her achievements and how much she appreciates all Nan does for her. She said, “She’s added ten years to my life.” I would venture to say, “Much more.”
I recall the movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” where a man played by Brad Pitt starts aging backward. As each year passes, he gets progressively younger-looking. Adeline and Nanette would be a real-life version of this movie. As long as I’ve known them, they look younger with each passing day. Adeline shared with me a previous interview she did where the radio host asked, “Your complexion is so good; what do you use?” The story goes she looked at Nanette, “who looked back in horror and gave her a “NO, Don’t say it,” signal, and said, “I was going to say because I use Preparation H, a standard application in the modeling industry, but so as not to embarrass Nanette I said, “Dove Soap.” Alfred Hitchcock, too, was mesmerized by her beauty during the filming “North by Northwest,” and said she was “too pretty” to put into a street scene as an extra and put her in an elevator scene behind Cary Grant. On the first take, Grant stood in front of her so she couldn’t be seen. As filming paused, without missing a beat, Adeline whispered in Grant’s ear, “My mother would never forgive you.”
For Nanette, the move to Punta Gorda was an act of love. Having lived in Middletown, New Jersey, for 34 years, Nan was not only relocating her business but leaving friends and organizations she had supported for years. Affectionately she added, “It’s a circle of life. My parents took care of me; it was my time to take care of them.” Nan continued, “My stepdad would often say, “My blood may not run through your veins, but my love does.” For Nan, the move was a leap of faith. “I didn’t know what I was going to do,” but she committed to herself that she would recreate the type of life she had in New Jersey in Punta Gorda. Some people take a lifetime to leave a lasting impression on their community and friends; for Adeline and Nanette, very few organizations haven’t benefitted from their love and commitment. For 30 years, Adeline has been a Punta Gorda Civic Association member and is known to all as the “Sunshine Lady.” While the role was considered an Ambassador of sorts welcoming new members, she expanded the role to offer solace and encouragement to the ill and bereaved. Adeline said, “I always write notes to people, letting people know there is someone who cares about them. She continued, “From the moment I moved to Punta Gorda 30 years ago, I wanted to give back to my community, and I’m always forming groups.” She recounted a group of women she formed where one came and said, “I miss my mother,” Without hesitation, I said, “You could have me as Mom #2.”
I always thought of myself as a real summer kid. Growing up in New York I was willing to sacrifice all the other months just to get to the summer season that started with Memorial Day and ended on Labor Day. That’s when I felt the most alive, and it was almost like watching life through a black and white t.v. that just transitioned to color. While my father claimed his favorite time of year was the fall, he would often say, “If you took out January, February, and March you would have perfect weather.” With a puzzled look on my face, I would reply, “You just cut out a quarter of the year like it was nothing.” Then I thought to myself, “I was willing to give up three quarters of the year just to get to my favorite 3 months.” I had to ask myself, “Which of the two of us was really nuts?”
Everyone has a story or knows of someone who has a storied background, but when you have the opportunity to spend as much time with clients as we do, their histories come to life in a way that makes you feel as if you went through a time with them. I remember one client who had been in the largest naval battle to this day. He was on a 500 ft. aircraft carrier in the Philippines and to listen to his story of the incoming fire they took, you couldn’t help but feel you were right alongside him. Other clients spoke of Communist regimes they escaped and how their families lost everything they had to come to our country. Others have been in the entertainment industry, some have been writers and still, others have created products that are widely used today. There have been CEOs and those that rose from poverty to creating highly successful businesses, going on to mentor others so they could have an opportunity to better themselves. We’ve also heard countless stories from physicians, who without fanfare traveled abroad to many third world countries administering to those in need, and did I mention a Grammy award-winning Pastor whose lives he continues to touch each day? For those of you whose stories have appeared in our newsletters you know who you are, and how your stories have had such an impact on my life, as have so many others.
While most people would like to talk about themselves, Gary and Gail have always put their clients first, and their diverse backgrounds have provided their clients an unparalleled level of service and knowledge throughout the past years.