“family.” The people who attend these reunions may be
separated in age by decades, but that doesn’t matter. They
not only want to see their old friends, but thrill in seeing
their children (and sometimes grandchildren) play with
each other. These are not your average reunions in any way,
shape or form.
fam
sep
not
the
ea
sh
In past years, the reunion has seen people come out from
Texas, Minnesota and all the way from California just to
reminisce about the one of a kind island they grew up on.
Te
re
Some years, like 2020,
only a few show up.
Other O
years the numbers
of o
attendees reach well
An ne t te H argis, Ja ck ie Silcox Fogart y, Ker r y
Fo g art y & To m Free ma n at th e 2018 reun i on.
more than 150 The
more than 150 people. The numbers don’t really
rs
matter, especially when there is so much love present.
In 2013, a year that wasn’t offi cially scheduled for a
reunion, a few of the “originals” got together to honor
those they have lost, and to take a trip to South Beach Bar
& Grille for some music and reminiscing. The group,
which included Darlene
whi
Ed
Bow
Se
an
Ca
Ha
Jo
to
Th e 3rd a nn ua l B oca G rande reuni on.
(Edic) Dempsey, Jesse
Bowe, Joy Bowe, Stacy
Seitz, Bev Furtado
and Len Tatko, Jackie Silcox ox Fogarty Fogarty, Julie
Julie
Camp, Becky Paterson, Grant Bell, Annette Hargis, Julie
Hargis, Suzanne Reid, Becky Silcox, Beth Pierce, Melissa
Joiner-Steyer, Ellie Coleman, and Lee and Polly Gaines, got
together at sunset one night at the little bridge on Harbor
D
Drive.
They lit Chinese lanterns
rns
d
in honor of friends and
family members who
f
C
G rant & Jackie Silc ox Foga rt y
at th e 2012 reun i on
have passed away. Julie Camp lit one in honor
of her brother, Lorn, and Grant Bell lit one for his sister,
Celeste (Itzy) Alane Bell Brown. Jesse Bowe lit one in honor
or
of her uncle, Dale Bowe, and others lit lanterns for men
and women in the service.
Names were called out
as the lanterns fl oated
away.
N
t
aw
J
The w hole 2019 reunion cre w, e at ing breakfa st
at 3rd St re e t Bistr o (f orme rl y Loon s o n a Limb).
Jack and Edith Silcox
...
Barbara Chatham ...
Don Hargis … Julian Hargis gis … Paula
Johnson … Ed and Connie Seale …
There were 24 lanterns in all that year. As the years have
passed, the numbers of Boca Grande’s natives have
dwindled, but more are born every year.
Grant Bell was born and raised in Boca Grande, a fi fthgeneration
Floridian. He currently works in Washington
D
Jo
T
p
d
D.C. at a relatively prestigious job, but he would much
An un us u al mas cot made it s way i nto t he
2019 reun i on p la ns .
rather hang out with his island friends any day. His quiet