a look at...
Joan and Cary Putrino
photography by Win Wolloff
C ary Putrino is Fifth Third Bank’s managing director for
the Florida region’s Private Bank. He oversees the private
banking offices in Naples, Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota, Fort
Lauderdale and Jacksonville. He also serves as city president
for the Naples market as part of the senior leadership team.
He earned a history degree from Binghamton (N.Y.) University
and attended law school at Western Michigan University’s Cooley
Law School in Lansing, Michigan. His wife Joan, an 18-year,
Stage 3 breast cancer survivor who has participated in eight
60-mile Komen for the Cure walks across the country, is a former
top sales associate for Silpada Designs, winning 14 incentive trips
over eight years. Together, the Putrinos focus on giving back in
the areas of health care, the arts and education.
Cary has served on boards for the United Way of Collier
County, the American Banking Association Wealth Management
and Trust Advisory Board, BayCare Health Care System,
St. Anthony’s Hospital and the Museum of Fine Arts, plus others.
Joan, who earned the American Cancer Society Chairman Award
in 2005, founded Baskets of Hope, which provided baskets
and books to those going through cancer treatment. She has
led many fundraisers for CASA and St. Anthony’s Hospital in
St. Petersburg, where she also was a pastoral care volunteer,
and she chaired galas for St. Raphael’s Catholic School and
St. Petersburg Catholic High School. Joan and Cary, who live in
St. Petersburg, are parents to three children and grandparents
to a nearly 2-year-old grandson.
What do you like most about the Tampa Bay area?
Joan: Walking along the water in downtown St. Pete
Cary: The community, culture and lifestyle
What could you talk about for hours?
Joan: My children and grandson
Cary: Financial markets, politics, sports and family
What is your favorite word?
Joan: Kindness
Cary: Optimism
What do you do on your day off?
Joan: I love spending time with my grandson Kooper.
Cary: Golf, exercise and spending time with my family
What are you famous for?
Joan: My meatballs and homemade sauce
Cary: Consistency
Who is your role model?
Joan: Mother Teresa
Cary: My father is a great mentor and treats everyone with
respect and compassion.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Joan: I live by the Maya Angelou quote: “You may not control
all events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be
reduced by them.”
Cary: The harder you work, the luckier you are.
What don’t people know about you?
Joan: I like to be in my bare feet.
Cary: My passion for animals
What are your favorite words of wisdom?
Joan: Be kind.
Cary: Life is about inputs and outputs. The more you put in,
the more you get out.
What is your motto?
Joan: Don’t cry because it’s over – smile because it happened.
Cary: Strive for excellence.
How do you think other people would describe you?
Joan: Kind, selfless and I never sit still
Cary: Hardworking, engaging and dedicated
What is your fondest memory?
Joan: Camping with my family as a child
Cary: Annual trips in the car with my parents and siblings,
driving 24 hours straight from New York to Florida
What would you like to do that you have never done?
Joan: Hike the Appalachian Trail
Cary: Be general manager of a professional sports team like
the Rays or Bucs
How would you describe yourself?
Joan: I’ve never met a stranger.
Cary: Loyal, disciplined and compassionate
What do you wish you could do?
Joan: Live on a farm
Cary: Play Augusta National Golf Club
What is your idea of happiness?
Joan: A day at the beach with my family
Cary: A day on the golf course or at the beach with my family
What is your pet peeve?
Joan: Intolerant and mean people
Cary: Complainers and negative people
What talent do you wish you had?
Joan: Sing or draw
Cary: Lead singer in a rock ‘n’ roll band
What is your most treasured possession?
Joan: I don’t care about material possessions…my family,
friends and dogs are my most treasured.
Cary: My golf clubs
What did you want to be when you were younger?
Joan: A dolphin trainer or a farmer
Cary: Veterinarian
Who would you like to meet?
Joan: Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx
Cary: Pope John Paul II
How would you like to be remembered?
Joan: As a kind, compassionate person who loved being a
wife, mother and grandma
Cary: I want to be remembered as a passionate leader and a
great husband, father and grandpa. 9
130 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019