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Parade in Key West to Honor Captain Tony

November 5th, 2008


Following services on Saturday in Key West for Captain Tony Tarracino, a street party and parade will take place on Greene Street to celebrate his life:

Visitation for Tarracino will be held at Dean-Lopez Funeral Home at 418 Simonton St. Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. Services will be Saturday at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church at 1010 Windsor Lane at 11 a.m.

That likely will be followed by something he would have rejoiced in: A parade and street party in his honor.

The parade, if approved by the City Commission, would start at noon and run down Greene Street — in front of Captain Tony’s Saloon — between Duval and Whitehead. Following the parade, the same area will be closed to traffic from 1 to 3 p.m. to accommodate the crowd expected to gather in honor of Tarracino.

Tarracino was a dear friend of Buffett’s. Read more about him here.


Tagged in Personal/Family

Captain Tony Passes Away

November 2nd, 2008


Tony Tarracino, known as Captain Tony to parrotheads, passed away Saturday at the age of 92 after being hospitalized for a week. His wife Mary of 38 years and seven of his children were by his side.

Captain Tony, owner of Captain Tony’s Saloon and former Key West Mayor, was immortalized by Jimmy Buffett in the song “Last Mango In Paris”.

CBS4.com has more:

His wife and seven of his children shared stories in his hospital room shortly before his death. A viewing is planned for Friday evening in Key West, with a service scheduled for Saturday morning. A reception for family and friends at Captain Tony’s Saloon will follow.

Captain Tony arrived in Key West from New Jersey in 1948. Ten years later, he purchased a bar on Greene Street, calling it Captain Tony’s Saloon. The bar still has the name, though it was sold in 1989.

Captain Tony was a charter boat captain, gambler and a gun runner for Cuban mercenaries during the Bay of Pigs invasion. He served as mayor of Key West from 1989 to 1991.

He married four times and fathered 13 children. A film titled “The Cuba Crossing” recounts his story; Stewart Whitman played Captain Tony. He was also memorialized by musician and longtime friend Jimmy Buffet, in the song “Last Mango in Paris.” Captain Tony also authored a book with Brad Manard, called “Life Lessons of a Legend.”


Tagged in Personal/Family