Profiles
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Pat Witschonke, West Point blind date succeeds 52 years
January 19, 2024
Pat Witschonke laughs easily, and enjoys life. She knows what she likes and what she doesn’t. Because of her humor and style, she has been able to surround herself with the things she likes. Princip…
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Pam Heilman, attorney and community volunteer
January 4, 2024
Few people are more enthusiastic, joyful, grateful, or optimistic than Pam Heilman. She is a board member and number one cheerleader for the Boca Grande Historical Society. Pam served as president o…
Profile: Karen Irvine, artist and teacher of sailors valentines
December 22, 2023
Come February, valentines will be on many people’s minds. For Karen Irvine, a certain type of valentine is on her mind almost all the time. She is an artist who specializes in “sailors’ valentin…
Profile: Jennifer Burby finds new family life in Boca Grande
December 14, 2023
There is not much good to be said about the recent worldwide COVID pandemic, but at least one person has found a silver lining for that terrible time. She discovered that she could work from home. T…
Profile: Dr. Patrick Bell, surgeon and woodworker
December 8, 2023
It didn’t take long for Dr. Patrick Bell to fall in love with Boca Grande and all of Gasparilla Island. He came for a weekend visit, and by the third day, he had bought a house and decided this woul…
There she is: Miss America, a nuclear engineer
December 8, 2023
Before her reign as Miss America was to come to an end, a stop in Boca Grande was essential for Grace Stanke. With the help of Diane Cook – Grace’s great-aunt, a Boca Grande resident and a member of…
2023: The year in Boca Grande Spotlight profiles
December 5, 2023
Every issue, the Boca Beacon highlights one of our own in our Page 3 In The Spotlight. We look to the community to see who is making news, whether they be a volunteer for one of our non-profits like…
Bob Armstrong: From Vietnam helicopter to First Baptist
November 22, 2023
Bob Armstrong and his wife Jan
Bob Armstrong is a great storyteller, and he has lots of stories to tell. He has led a life full of interesting twists and turns and he has a way of sharing them th…
Improving the quality of our local produce with Eva Worden
November 22, 2023
Gardening tips are not exactly what Eva Worden is coming to the Boca Grande Community Center to talk about on Monday, Nov. 27, at 4:30 p.m. She is coming to make people think more deeply about farmi…
PROFILE: Pastor Gary Beatty
November 9, 2023
If it is wrong to lie about your age when you are 16 so you can earn money to help your mother support the family, Pastor Gary Beatty has probably been forgiven. What was truly wrong was how poor he…