Growing up in Stuart has given Florida Oceanographic Society (FOS) volunteer Caroline Wattles a unique perspective on environmental change in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). The estuary where she used to play is in deep trouble, and she’s taking an active role in saving it. In the last year, Caroline has given more than 300 volunteer hours with FOS’s Research department. She works on mangrove and seagrass restoration projects that get the Martin County community involved.  Staff members note that no task is too dirty or too gross for Caroline — she tackles it all with enthusiasm.

“After being away at college for a few years, I came back to a lot of change,” says Caroline. “It feels good to be helping rebuild the environment I experienced as a kid.”

Caroline first started volunteering with her friend Abby on an FOS project testing the water for microplastics – plastic particles from sources like synthetic clothing and face and hair products that are so small they can pass through water filtration systems. She’s expanded her volunteer service with mangrove and seagrass restoration. Caroline works with the Florida Oceanographic Society’s Research department, which provides opportunities for people in the community to get involved in citizen science projects that help restore habitats in the IRL. They also work with schools and camps so kids can take part in restoration activities while learning about the local environment. Lately, Caroline’s been teaching kids how to make mangrove planters that can be incorporated in oyster reef restoration.

Over the summer, Caroline has been at FOS for 20 to 30 hours each week. She hopes to continue with some of those hours this fall when her classes resume at Indian River State College. Caroline’s future career plans involve integrating landscape architecture and ecological restoration. She’s gained valuable insight into restoration and sustainable human development in her work with FOS’s Research department.

“I really like working with the Research department,” says Caroline. “The amount of resourcefulness they have is incredible. Despite the complexity of administration and of gaining funding, they push on and never give up. It’s great to see their hard work make an impact.”

Caroline Wattles Snapshot:

Generation: Millennial

Favorite podcasters: NPR, The Energy Gang

Top tunes: Justice, a French electronic music duo

Hobbies: Gardening, art, animal training 

When Dave Messner and his wife Robyn moved to Hutchinson Island, he expected he’d be taken with the sea turtles nesting near their beachfront home. It turns out Dave is a ray guy!  “I came across a ray washed up on the beach one day, and when I poured some water on him, he moved,” says Dave. “I carefully picked him up, set him back in the water, and he swam away. That experience really bonded me to stingrays.”

For nearly five years Dave has been a year-round Ray Program Presenter at Florida Oceanographic Society, giving nearly 700 hours of service. He’s also helped with the Coastal Center’s outreach events, but his heart is with the rays. “Working at the ray tank you get to see the connection visitors of all ages make with the rays,” notes Dave. “It happens every time, and it’s very powerful. There are lots of other volunteer opportunities at the Coastal Center, but why would I do anything else?”

Dave married Robyn - his high school sweetheart - while he was earning a teaching degree at  Western Michigan University. During his dynamic, 41-year career in education, he had the unique experience of working with students in kindergarten through 12^th grade. His roles included teacher, principal and assistant superintendent. Dave did his student teaching in Barcelona, Spain, and the overseas experience launched the couple’s international travel tradition. The Messners passed their love of travel and foreign languages on to their three children, who have all spent time overseas. In fact, their youngest daughter followed in Dave’s footsteps, working as an assistant principal in Zambia and currently, in Saudi Arabia. She and her husband, a native of Belgium, recently purchased a home in the Vosges Mountains in France. Dave and Robyn plan to spend three weeks with her family there this summer.

“When we moved to Florida, Robyn encouraged me to spend some time volunteering,” says Dave, “and it’s been incredible. I’m very impressed with the way the Coastal Center welcomes its volunteers into the family.”

Dave Messner Snapshot:

Born in: Michigan City, IN
Last paid position: Assistant Principal, Renaissance Charter School of St. Lucie 
Favorite read: The Industries of the Future by son-in-law and Maryland gubernatorial candidate Alec Ross 
Flashing leather: Plays 3^rd base 4 days/week 
Spare time: Nature photography, birding, overseas travel 
Good eats: Stuart's Gettin Crabby 
 
 

For many years, a toy sea turtle sat on Jim Foley’s desk at work, a visible reminder of the Foley’s dream to retire to a beach home on Hutchinson Island and find a way to work with sea turtles. In 2015, the couple made it happen. Sue and Jim left their home in Maryland, moved to the island full-time and began volunteering for Florida Oceanographic Society. They’ve helped with the Coastal Center’s Signature golf tournament, our Lights on the Lagoon holiday event and other community outreach events, but their first love is sea turtles!

 A business executive who consults part-time with companies on people and organizational culture, Jim loves being a sea turtle scout.  “We’re so lucky to live here.  When I first saw a loggerhead sea turtle climb out of the water on our beach, it was a magical experience,” says Jim, who’s given 125 hours of service. “I’ve become passionate about the turtles. If guests see a nesting turtle up close and understand all that the turtles are up against, they are going to remember that experience and become more in-tune with environmental stewardship.”

 A devoted sea turtle scout, Sue also volunteers as an exhibit guide, and has given 350 hours to the Coastal Center. Sue began her career as an art director for a newspaper. After time at home raising the couple’s two sons, Christopher and JJ, she taught second-grade for an elementary school in Maryland. Lately, she’s picked up her camera again to photograph landscapes, sunrises, and the turtles. They’ve also started a Lights Out event at their beachfront community to celebrate the start of sea turtle nesting season.

The Foleys like to travel and enjoy visiting their sons in Houston and Los Angeles. They’ve also been remodeling homes. Their current project is a 1970’s era A-frame near Asheville, NC. At home, they spend a lot of time on the beach with their dog Marley, and also volunteer at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach. Sue is a docent there and occasionally leads guest tours, and Jim is a member of the volunteer rehab staff working on sea turtle care and helping with releases.

“We’re lucky to be so close to the sea turtles and be involved in their conservation,” says Sue. “People’s faces really light up – adults and kids – when they see a sea turtle on our walks, and that’s very rewarding. Sharing that excitement with them is really fun.”

Sue & Jim Foley Snapshot:

East Coast Couple: NY(Sue) & NJ (Jim)

Strong knot: Married for 34 years

Daily treat: Beach walks with Marley

First trip in retirement: Grand Canyon

Sue's recent read: Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before

Jim's recent read: Thank you for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in an Age of Accelerations

How they met: They're not sure!

When her granddaughter suggested she become a Florida Oceanographic Society volunteer, Judy Biegler didn’t hesitate. Visits to Florida Oceanographic had been a family tradition since 2005. Joining us as a volunteer in 2015, Judy has already logged in more than 400 hours of service, mainly as an exhibit guide and sea turtle scout. She’s also been an instrumental volunteer for Lights on the Lagoon at the Coastal Center.

“We’ve always loved the beach, so Hutchinson Island was a natural choice when we retired from Orlando,” says Judy. “I try to walk the beach every day, and really enjoy being part of the Coastal Center’s nighttime sea turtle walk program.” Judy is one of Florida Oceanographic’s dedicated sea turtle scouts for the popular walks where people get the opportunity to witness and learn about a nesting sea turtle. Online registration for the walks on begins May 1^st.

Judy and her husband Craig lived in Kansas, Alabama and Colorado before settling in Orlando for work. Though Judy majored in elementary-level physical education, she pursued a career in technology project management, working for AT&T, the FBI, and a small software firm. The couple raised two daughters, and have four grandkids who live within a few hours’ drive.  “We have three grandsons and a granddaughter all in their teens, and we’re able to attend many of their sporting events and concerts,” says Judy.  

Another passion is cruises. Judy and Craig took their first cruise for an anniversary trip in 1984, and she’s continued the tradition with family and friends at least every other year since. Judy counts cruises along the Mediterranean coast, Hawaii and Alaska among her favorites.

Judy is enthusiastic about the education happening at the Coastal Center.  “Exhibit guide is a great role. I love sharing the knowledge I have and continually building more every day,” she notes. “Our visitors are always asking interesting questions, so it’s an opportunity for us both to learn something new.”

Judy Snapshot:

Born in: Kansas
Favorite Eats: Dolphin Bar & Shrimp House 
Recent Flicks: Hostiles 
Travel Tradition: Cruises 
Hobbies: Beach walks, holiday crafting
 

Florida Oceanographic Society welcomes back volunteer George Gross, one of our early board members in the 1970s. About eight months ago, George rejoined our volunteer community, and has been working with Dr. Encomio to update Florida Oceanographic’s Weather Station technology at the House of Refuge.

“The House of Refuge is prime territory for monitoring prevailing winds because of its location,” says George. “Advances in technology now allow us to easily log this great data and also provide it real-time over the internet. We would love to marry our information with water quality data for even better insight into the local environment. It’s a valuable service to provide to the community and other researchers too.”

George first connected with Florida Oceanographic Society’s Executive Director Mark Perry through George’s father, a professor at Florida Institute of Technology where Mark attended school.  After earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in the 1970s, George and his family opened a Radio Shack franchise in Stuart. George and Mark ran into each other around town, and soon Mark asked George to get involved with Florida Oceanographic. “A group of us had this idea of a dial-up weather service that people could phone before going out on the water. Mark asked us to build it, and we did,” says George. “I wanted to support the mission and better environmental stewardship, so I was a board member for several years.”

George sold his Radio Shack after 10 years and joined Florida Power & Light’s nuclear division. He married his wife Luisa, and the couple had two daughters who are now grown and live in Florida and Kentucky.  After a 30-year career with FPL, George found he had the time again to volunteer. He’s very passionate around two topics: the environment and organ donation. “A few years ago I was able to donate a kidney to my wife who was going into renal failure. Our transplant team made the whole operation so easy and the outcome was so beneficial that I just can’t keep my mouth shut about it. If medical science can do that, what can the rest of us do to protect Mother Earth?”

“Coming back to Florida Oceanographic was an easy choice for me,” he adds. “I’m thrilled by the growth of the Center and the amazing work that’s happening here. I give Mark Perry so much credit for his drive and vision, which have really made the original idea into a reality.”

George Gross Snapshot:
Hometown: Cocoa Beach, FL 
Alma Mater: University of Florida
TV Faves: Blue Planet 2 series
Interests: Electronics, Software, Enviornmental Change
Volunteer Service: 200 hours at Florida Oceanographic in the last 8 months

For Marge Stafford and Jim Dieckhoner, the best place to be at Florida Oceanographic Society is the touch tanks. The couple has volunteered as exhibit guides for the past two years, and they love their role. They’ve shared more than 200 hours each while volunteering at the Coastal Center.

“The children are the best part about it,” says Marge. “We really enjoy the chance to answer their questions and teach them about animals they may only have seen in books. The variety of marine life we have in our exhibits is remarkable.”

Volunteering is the preferred lifestyle for this active couple. They estimate spending about 50% of their time as volunteers. In their free time, they’re often paddling with their kayak club, ballroom dancing or hitting the links.  They also travel in Europe quite often.

Jim and Marge met in Florida and married in 2006. Jim, an Ohio native, moved to Stuart after retiring from an extensive career in nuclear engineering that began with 10 years in the Air Force. Marge moved from New Jersey in 1957, and retired from her administrative role at Toyota after 15 years. Before that, she worked in administration for Pompano High School and Broward Community College.

Marge’s passion for service began with volunteer opportunities Toyota sponsored for its employees. After retiring she joined a Red Cross Disaster Relief Team, and she recruited Jim for the team, too. By then Jim had also been sharing his time with the Martin County Library System and the Elliott Museum.  Today, the couple works in a soup kitchen and a nursing home on behalf of their church, and for the United Way. Marge also volunteers with Martin Memorial Hospital.

Marge and Jim each have two sons and four grandchildren. Marge is also a great-grandmother, with another great-grandchild on the way.

“The Coastal Center is like a great big family, and we really enjoy being here,” says Marge. Jim seconds that feeling. “The staff here is wonderful, and they are very good at making you feel like you’re working with them, not for them,” he notes. “There is a lot of energy and dedication here to being active problem-solvers for our ecosystem.”

Meet Jim & Marge:
Dining out: Riverwalk Café, Bonefish Grill
Favorite flicks: Hacksaw Ridge, Lawrence of Arabia, To Kill a Mockingbird, Dr. Zhivago
Jim’s alma maters: Ohio University, Air Force Institute of Technology
Marge’s digs: Houseboat in Ft. Lauderdale as a newlywed
Next big adventure: Chicago museums and Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel

Nancyann Taylor brings positive energy and her own brand of spunk to everything she does for Florida Oceanographic Society. In the last 12 years, Nancyann has given more than 4,400 hours of service in admissions, in the gift shop, as a greeter, and for the last eight years, as an exhibit guide and ray presenter.

“It’s really special working with a child who’s visiting for the first time and nervous about feeding the rays,” says Nancyann. “I’m going to get that kid over the hump. We stand next to each other in front of the window, and with his/her hand on mine, we feed the rays together. That look of wonder and excitement on the child’s face is priceless.”

Nancyann’s a natural leader who’s also headed up some of Florida Oceanographic’s key fundraising events over the years, including the Swashbuckler and Oceans Alive. Though her full-time volunteer post as president of the Martin Health Auxiliary keeps her extremely busy, she makes time on Saturdays to be a ray presenter and is always willing to take extra shifts as her schedule allows.

In 2003, Nancyann persuaded her late husband Tom to retire from New Jersey to Stuart with the promise of exceptional fishing. While she worked with the Coastal Center guests, Tom, a carpenter, built the picnic tables as well as the wooden puzzles which are constant hit with the kids. Together, they raised four daughters and a son who became a Marine. Nancyann makes regular visits to New Jersey and Virginia to spend time with her twelve grandkids and eight great-grandchildren.

After her two-year term as Auxiliary President ends, Nancyann plans to increase her volunteer time at the Coastal Center again. “I love being here,” she says. “I love the people, and I love the opportunities I have to continue learning. It’s a very special place.”

Nancyann Taylor Snapshot
Career: 31 years in NJ real estate
Posse #1: 20 grand- and great-grandchildren
Posse #2: Raritan Roadrunners Motorcycle Club, NJ
At the Gym: Pole-dancing workout
Hobbies: Gardening, sewing, embroidery
Favorite reads: Outlander series, David Baldacci

At least one day a week for the past eight years, Ron Jacobstein has donned his Florida Oceanographic volunteer shirt and arrived ready to share the Coastal Center’s exhibits with guests of all ages. Ron, who describes himself as a “wannabe teacher,” often fills in for other exhibit guides and presenters at times when volunteer ranks get thin. He’s volunteered more than 1,900 hours of his time mainly as an exhibit guide and ray presenter, though he is always ready to pitch in when extra hands are needed.

“I enjoy meeting and talking with people, especially the kids, and allowing them to interact with our live animals, helping them better understand the marine life and unique ecosystem we have here,” says Ron. “The kids always have the most interesting questions. It’s great to see their excitement when they interact with a stingray or sea urchin for the first time.”

Ron worked as an engineer in the nuclear power industry for 30 years prior to retiring. Before that, he served in the Navy’s submarine service. His engineering career led him to work in nearly all 50 states, and at nearly one third of the nuclear power plants in the U.S. at one time or another. He managed his own power plant inspection company for the last 10 years until retiring in 2006. Though this Pennsylvania native enjoyed his time in Washington, D.C. the most, he chose Hutchinson Island as his place to settle in the late 1980s. Ron has family living in the Parkland and Jacksonville areas.  

After so many years traveling for his work, Ron is happy to stay put here on "the island" - at least for the immediate future.  He enjoys volunteering, and has given his time to many Martin County-area organizations, including the Florida Oceanographic Society, the Elliott Museum, and The Lyric Theater, and many one-time events like the various art festivals and Stuart sailfish regatta. “Volunteering keeps me active and involved in the community,” says Ron. “It’s been an important part of my life for many years.”

Ron Jacobstein Snapshot
Born in: Pennsylvania
Alma maters: Columbia University, Miami of Ohio
Hobbies: Tennis, swimming, gym workouts
Recent read: Ron Chernow’s  Alexander Hamilton
Favorite genre: Mysteries

One of Marnell McNamara’s first impressions of Florida Oceanographic Society was that the Coastal Center had a lot of volunteers. Since signing up as a volunteer herself in 2016, she has logged more than 125 hours of service while volunteering on the Coastal Center’s Green Team, and participating in oyster baggings and deployments.  The Coastal Center’s staff describe her as a true crusader for the estuary.

“When we visited Liz’s parents in Stuart, we really liked the area, and so we bought a home on Hutchinson Island in 2014, then moved here full-time in 2016,” says Marnell. “I always knew I would volunteer after I retired, and joining the Green Team is a great way to be outdoors and active with gardening.” The Florida Oceanographic’s Green Team meets at the Coastal Center on Friday mornings to prune, weed and care for the butterfly garden, shade house and other special projects.

Marnell and her partner Liz Grossman moved from Peekskill, NY after Marnell retired from a 32-year career with New York Life, where she worked in product support and systems testing. Liz continues to consult on credit risk management and corporate training while finding time to also volunteer with Florida Oceanographic. Though this native New Yorker didn’t plan to retire to Florida, Marnell has found the Stuart area well-suited for the couple’s outdoor interests. They like to bike and to run, and have laced up their shoes for a Florida Oceanographic relay team in the Treasure Coast Marathon. They also are regulars at cleanups for the beach, waterways and adopt-a-highway on Hutchinson Island.

The couple’s cats Squeaky, Mia and Owen will miss them next spring when Marnell and Liz tour Cuba. They’ve booked a cruise that stops at this unique island, and are treating Liz’s parents and Marnell’s aunt to the trip, too.

Marnell is glad to share her green thumb as a volunteer. In addition to her role with the Green Team, she participates on the Beautification Committee in her community.  “I always encourage people to volunteer,” says Marnell. “It’s important to do something to help the world.”

Marnell McNamara Snapshot
Hometown: The Bronx
Fleet of feet: Has run 6 marathons
Good eats: Shrimper’s
Hobbies: Crocheting, learning to golf
Latest read: The Nightingale
Favorite flick: The Godfather

A little more than 10 years ago, Leslie Blanchard came face-to-face with a nesting leatherback sea turtle as she walked the beach one night near her Hutchinson Island home.  Leslie was immediately hooked. “This turtle looked like a sci-fi crocodile or a small submarine, and she paid me no mind as I walked by,” says Leslie. “I ran home like a little kid, and the next day, I signed up to volunteer at a local sea turtle nature center. I’ve been fascinated and delighted by them ever since.”

Shortly thereafter, Leslie’s interest in sea turtles led her to answer Florida Oceanographic Society’s call for volunteers in the newspaper. She began as an exhibit guide at the touch tank and then advanced to become both a ray and turtle presenter. Leslie helped Education Specialist Michelle Byriel in forming the Florida Oceanographic’s nighttime sea turtle walk program, and was lead turtle scout for more than eight years. Over the past decade Leslie has given nearly 1,600 hours of service at Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center.

“I really enjoy the look on our visitors’ faces when they touch or feed a ray for the first time and when they learn about sea turtles, their hatchlings and their importance to our beaches,” notes Leslie. “I love meeting new volunteers and helping them learn more about all our animals and exhibits, too.” 

When Leslie answered the Coastal Center’s newspaper ad, she and her husband Doug had recently retired to Stuart. Leslie’s long career as a federal agent with the Central Intelligence Agency took her all over the world. “It was 25 years of traveling and/or living in Hong Kong and the Orient, all over Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America,” she says. “I’ve stood on the equator, rode a camel to the Pyramids in Egypt, met Mother Teresa in India, photographed animals in their natural habitats in Africa, and slept under my bed in Vietnam. My assignments varied from administrative work to investigations to many top-secret assignments.”

Though Leslie spent her career in the CIA, she has a talent for teaching, and earned bachelor’s degrees in both business and education at the University of Lamar in Beaumont, TX. “I thought a government job would be just the thing for a few years, then I’d return to Texas and teach school,” she explains.  Now, she’s teaching the Coastal Center visitors about rays, turtles and smart environmental stewardship.

“I’ve volunteered in many places, and this is one of the happiest,” says Leslie. “I enjoy the family atmosphere with staff and volunteers, and I love the volunteer interactions, meetings and parties during the year. I plan to continue learning and volunteering at Florida Oceanographic for a long time.”

Leslie Blanchard Snapshot
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Favorite eats: Flanagan’s Seafood Bar & Grill for ribs or hamburgers
Special skills: Rappelling, shooting machine guns, go-go dancing
Hobbies: Tennis, quilting, Zumba and Drums at the YMCA
Top reads: Covert operations mysteries
Next trip: Cruising the Fjords of Norway

Call it karma, fate, serendipity or just plain good luck: right about the time Jerry Appell offered his mechanical engineering skills and marine experience to Florida Oceanographic Society as a volunteer, the Coastal Center was looking to expand with a new Gamefish Lagoon. Jerry joined the Facilities Committee in 2002, and was instrumental in the design and completion of one of the Coastal Center’s most popular exhibits, a 750,000 gallon gamefish lagoon showcasing local fish species.

“I’d worked in oceanography all of my life as a mechanical engineer, first for the Navy, and then for NOAA. When we moved to the Palm City area, the Coastal Center was a great place to volunteer,” says Jerry. “I enjoyed being involved in every aspect of the Gamefish Lagoon, from exhibit design to coordinating the installation with the contractor. I also helped select and install the seawater pump system. It was a lot of fun.”

Jerry and his wife Marika, a beauty salon owner, retired from Washington, DC to central Florida in the late 1990s. The couple moved to their Palm City home to be closer to their son in Fort Lauderdale. Since 2002, Jerry has given more than 2,400 hours of service to the Coastal Center.  A lifetime tropical plant lover, Jerry has guided visitors on the Coastal Center’s 1 mile Nature Trail for close to 15 years. When the Nighttime Sea Turtle walks began seven years ago, Jerry and Marika signed on right away, a role they continue today. Jerry counts bobcat and loggerhead sea turtle sightings among the extraordinary experiences he’s had as an FOS volunteer.

When they are not at the Coastal Center, Jerry and Marika enjoy time with their five grandsons, who are between the ages of 5 and 13.  Jerry’s many interests include kayaking locally and around the state, and caring for his backyard trees, orchids and bromeliads.

Jerry is currently working with Dr. Pam Hopkins to refine Florida Oceanographic Society’s water quality reporting program. “This past year I started working with Dr. Vincent Encomio (Director of Scientific Research) on the water quality data,” says Jerry. “It’s critical data, and our goal is to make it more useful in the community.”

Jerry Appell Snapshot:
Born in: Long Island, NY
Next trip: Grand Canyon with two grandsons
Favorite read: Time magazine
Top TV pick: detective series Bosch
Member of: Martin County Orchid Society

Lake Worth native Marko Sillanpaa knew of Florida Oceanographic Society growing up, but it wasn’t until he became a Martin County parent that he began to visit the Coastal Center regularly. His four-year-old daughter loves “the fishy place,” so when Marko began looking for volunteer opportunities a year ago, FOS was a solid fit.

“I’m at my computer most of the day working from home, so I wanted to find a place I could volunteer outdoors,” says Marko. “In our visits to Florida Oceanographic, I realized FOS seemed to have fewer volunteers during the summer, so I started as an off-season exhibit guide on Tuesdays.  It was there that I learned about research opportunities.”

Marko is part of FOS’ growing Green Team, the group charged with care of the Butterfly Garden, landscape around the Center and more recently, the Shade House. “The Shade House was originally a place to park plants until we found a home for them, but we’ve realized that local homeowners who take advantage of our oyster reef restoration in the waters near their homes are also interested in native plants for their backyards.  We’re growing wild coffee plants, grasses and other native species.”

Marko works in enterprise document management, a growing field that involves use of technologies to manage document creation, organization and storage across large companies. He is applying his skills and expertise to help FOS evolve digitally. He is also part of the team working with the Florida Oceanographic’s Director of Scientific Research, Dr. Vincent Encomio, on a joint research project with Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce.

The Coastal Center has become a favorite place for both Marko and his family. The Sillanpaa family also has plans to chase the solar eclipse this summer.  “We’re going to start in St. Louis, and then drive to wherever the best viewing sites will be depending on the cloud cover,” says Marko. “I hope it’s one of those trips that will be a great memory for my daughter throughout her lifetime.”

Marko Sillanpaa Snapshot
Alma mater: Florida Atlantic University
Family time: Visits to the beach to picnic and fly kites
Hobbies: Kayaking, biking
Favorite eats: Carmella’s Pizza & Wine Bar
Honors: 2017 Community Spirit Award by global industry group AIIM

Growing up in Pennington, New Jersey, Doug Ditmars spent hours exploring the woods near his home. He never outgrew his love of the outdoors, and it was the nature trail that caught his eye when he first visited the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. Now, nine years later, Doug has given more than 900 volunteer hours as a Nature Trail Guide and Gamefish Lagoon presenter.

“The nature trail is so unique to a person from the Northeast,” says Doug. “I’ve enjoyed learning about the mangroves, the plants and all of the wildlife along the trail, and I love being able to share it with visitors. Sometimes I teach them, and sometimes they teach me, and I can pass that learning along.”

Doug and his wife Jane retired to Stuart in 2008 from Easton, Pennsylvania, where Doug was an orthopedic surgeon, and Jane taught elementary school. While Doug gives his time to Florida Oceanographic, Jane volunteers teaching kindergarten and adult literacy. The couple makes frequent road trips to Rhode Island to visit their daughter, her husband and two grandsons, ages three and seven. They also like to spend time with their son in Pennsylvania.

Doug is a devoted birdwatcher and fisherman. He and his brother fish the local waters together on Doug’s boat, often preferring their fly rods to other types of fishing. Doug also likes fly tying. His time on the water translates into enthusiastic discussions with visitors about gamefish in the Coastal Center’s Gamefish Lagoon and getting people interested in fishing.  Which is exactly the reasoning behind the Coastal Center’s annual Game Fish & Fish Games, an event coming up on March 19^th to boost kids’ skills, knowledge and interest in fishing.

Seining with visiting school groups, and oyster shell bagging are Coastal Center activities Doug also enjoys, but his favorite volunteer role is Nature Trail Guide. “I’ve seen bobcats on the trail, and one day, this enormous yellow rat snake emerged as we were talking about the black mangroves near the third boardwalk,” says Doug. “It’s a very special place.”

Doug Ditmars Snapshot
Cupid’s tale: Married 49 years to his high school sweetheart
Latest read: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, by Fredrik Backman
Favorite fins: Trout, large-mouth bass, tarpon, snook
Hobbies: Tennis, birdwatching, fly tying, fishing
Best eats: Riverwalk Cafe & Oyster Bar, Shrimper’s, Duffy’s

A molecular biologist by trade, volunteer Laura Elsenboss has spent nearly 150 hours in the last year engaging visitors at Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center’s touch tanks. Sharing marine science with guests of all ages is work she loves, and it builds on her previous experience as an exhibit guide at the Waikiki Aquarium in Hawaii. 

“This is an interesting volunteer role for me,” says Laura. “I like learning about the local marine life, and I really enjoy interacting with our visitors. The education we provide here lays the groundwork for their engagement and advocacy.”

Laura and her husband are long-time outdoor enthusiasts. The couple retired from Connecticut to the Stuart area in 2014, and then spent the next eight months bicycling on a 6,000-mile cross-country trip that took them through the northern Midwest and ended in San Diego. They camped their way back to Florida over the rest of the year, tackling U.S. Fish & Wildlife trail volunteer projects along the way.

Laura’s career in the pharmaceutical industry spanned nearly 24 years, and included a year-long stint in Hawaii. After retiring, her plan was to seek outdoor volunteer opportunities that would draw on her science background and interest in community education. She’s found her niche with Florida Oceanographic Society.

“As a volunteer, I want to be challenged and use all of my skills. The opportunities to get involved with FOS have been a great fit with my skills and interests, and my desire to support environmental stewardship in my community.”

Since starting in the spring of 2016, Laura’s been involved with oyster shell bagging, the Lights on the Lagoon event, and crafting oyster-shell angel ornaments for sale in the gift shop over the holidays. She’s given marine science presentations at the nearby Hutchinson Island Marriott, a partnership that delights the resort’s visitors while also increasing awareness of the Coastal Center and its mission of environmental stewardship. This year she also plans to expand her role within the Coastal Center’s Education Department  by helping with school groups that visit the Coastal Center.

“The education the Coastal Center provides for young visitors is so important – it sets them up for lifelong learning and interest in the marine ecosystems around us,” notes Laura. “And, kids impact their parents’ thinking and behavior. I’m hopeful that our education and outreach efforts can make a difference for families as well as in the larger community.”

Laura Elsenboss Snapshot:
Family ties: Husband John, 7 grandkids across the U.S.
Favorite flicks: Titanic, Star Wars saga
Hobbies: Biking, cooking all kinds of cuisine
Famous for: Halloween 2016 cardboard Starfish costume
Latest project: Building and stewardship of Treasure Coast YMCA’s new Little Free Library

Since moving to the Stuart area in 2015, volunteer Cheryl Wlodarski has become up-close and personal with a critical part of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) ecosystem: seagrasses, through her work with Florida Oceanographic Society’s (FOS) research department. Cheryl has been highly involved in the Florida Oceanographic Seagrass Training Education Restoration (FOSTER) team, by working to restore seagrass in the lagoon. The team surveys private properties in the area and obtains owners’ permission for seagrass restoration work. FOS volunteers attach seagrass plants onto “mats” about a square foot in size, and Cheryl has donned her mask snorkel to plant the mats into the lagoon’s sandy floor.

“When I moved here, I knew I wanted to learn as much as possible about the ecosystem, and how we can rebuild and protect it,” says Cheryl. “The seagrasses provide habitat, nurseries, and food for many marine species, so they are essential to the health of the IRL. It’s very fulfilling work.”

Cheryl also helps to maintain the seagrass nursery tanks located behind the research lab, and participates in FOS’s monthly seagrass survey. FOSTER relies on the maintenance of these nursery-grown seagrass fragments to support ongoing seagrass restoration. She retired from her career as a middle school science teacher in California when her husband Stephen’s work brought them to Florida.

“Our school in San Diego was adjacent to the San Diego Zoo,” says Cheryl. “We shared teaching resources and a community garden with the zoo – it was like having our own back door to this amazing place. I’m so glad I’ve been able to continue using my science background and skills. Florida Oceanographic is also an amazing place to be.”

Over the last 10 months, Cheryl has given close to 200 hours to Florida Oceanographic through various volunteer roles including her work with the seagrass and as an exhibit guide. She also is a water quality tester.

“We can work to protect the environment in a lot of different ways here,” notes Cheryl. “Everything we do, from the seagrass surveys to oyster shell deployment to talking with Coastal Center visitors helps. I’ve even recruited my next-door neighbor as a volunteer. It’s great to be involved!”

Cheryl Wlodarski Snapshot:
Born in: California
Coastal kids: A son in NC, a daughter in NY
Go-to movie: On Golden Pond
Favorite eats: pasta, pasta, pasta, and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Hobbies: Gardening, kayaking, paddle boarding
Has also volunteered for: Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, Molly’s House

Though he began volunteering at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center just over a year ago, Paul Laura is already heavily involved in habitat restoration for the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Paul initially became involved in the Florida Oceanographic Oyster Restoration (FLOOR) program, a program that recycles oyster shell back into the IRL to facilitate new growth. Oysters play a vital role in the ecosystem and a healthy oyster can filter 30-50 gallons of water per day. Paul is also working as a part of a team headed by the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce on a joint Hooked mussel research project comparing filter-feeding properties of Hooked mussels and oysters.

“Mussels provide high levels of water filtration, just as oysters do,” says Paul, who often bikes to the Center. “I wondered, ‘How can mussels help clean up the IRL?’ There’s nothing documented about mussels in this area, so we’re doing research to compare the filtration and digestion of algae by mussels versus oysters.”

Business and technical management was a part of Paul’s work career. Before he took early retirement, Paul spent many years with multinational conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, a holding company with diverse brands such as Fruit of the Loom, Duracell, Kraft Heinz, and Oriental Trading Company. Through his work, Paul, his wife Mary and son Michael spent more than a decade in Germany and Holland.

“While we were living overseas, my son had volunteer requirements, both locally and outside of Germany as part of his curriculum at the Hamburg International School he attended. Our whole family became involved with his volunteer work,” notes Paul. “Michael traveled to Ghana and Sri Lanka; once to help build a school, and later to Sri Lanka to assist in the cleanup after a tsunami. Participating or supporting some of these experiences reinforced how satisfying it is to give of your time. With retirement, one has even more opportunity to do it.”

Though Paul spent much of his career in management, he holds bachelor's and master’s degrees in science. His last position before retiring involved a new product development acceleration process for Research & Development at Berkshire Hathaway. 

When Paul and Mary moved permanently to the Jensen Beach area in 2015, Paul pursued an interest in marine biology at the Coastal Center after reading of the extensive efforts being made by FOS under the leadership of Mr. Mark Perry. He is a key volunteer for the research department through his involvement with oyster shell baggings and deployments, monitoring oyster and seagrass populations, water quality testing and other projects, as well as helping the organization with advocacy, community outreach and special events.  He also shares his time on projects at the Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce.

“The IRL is a unique and very special ecosystem, and it’s under attack,” says Paul. “It’s going to take a continued effort to get it headed back in a positive direction. I’m very pleased to be allowed a part in this effort by FOS, SMS and the Martin County Community to restore the living shoreline as seen many years ago.” 

Paul Laura Snapshot

New Year’s Eve hotspot: Sailor’s Return
Favorite author: Clive Cussler, Siddhartha Mukherjee
Fresh interest: Learning Dutch
Skilled at: pickle ball, tennis, golf
Travel plans: South Africa, New Zealand

On Friday mornings, Stuart native Ginny Douglass combines her passion for gardening with her love of the ocean by volunteering at Florida Oceanographic  Society. Ginny leads the Green Team, a group of volunteers dedicated to maintaining the Butterfly Garden and other memorial gardens on the Coastal Center’s grounds. She brings energy and spirit to her work, which includes greenhouse operations in the Shade House.  Ginny recently earned her 1500-hour sticker.

“We’re always trying new things with the gardens to attract butterfly species and maintain natural gardening practices,” says Ginny. “We’re currently experimenting with fresh sargassum seaweed we collect out in the ocean as a natural fertilizer for the plants.”

Ginny’s love of the water began at an early age. Before she turned one, her father, a ship captain, moved the family from Connecticut to Stuart by boat. He went on to captain for film star and local legend Frances Langford for several years. He also built Ginny a small pram which she sailed up and down the St. Lucie for hours after elementary school let out. Today, Ginny and her husband Barry keep a 16’ flats boat for the Indian River Lagoon, and a larger boat for offshore fishing.

At Martin County High School, Ginny was close friends with Bonnie Pitman, sister to Florida Oceanographic Executive Director Mark Perry. It was this connection that led to Ginny’s volunteer service. After living in Maryland and then Ft. Lauderdale for 35 years, Ginny moved back to the Stuart area. She ran into high school friends who encouraged her to volunteer at the Coastal Center.

“About 11 years ago, we began as water testers and participated in oyster shell bagging,” notes Ginny. “I was also an exhibit guide for a few years. Then, an opportunity came up on the Green Team, and I was glad to get involved. I learned vegetable gardening from my mom, and at the Coastal Center, I’ve expanded to propagating and maintaining native plants. It’s a really good workout, too.”  

“There’s so much you can do at the Coastal Center, and it helps so many people,” she adds. “It’s just a great place!”

Ginny Douglass Snapshot
Family: Husband Barry, one son, two granddaughters
Professional career: Chemist at Gillette
Favorite book: Watership Down
Another volunteer role: Girls’ softball coach
Skilled at: tennis, sailing, water skiing
Travel plans: Bermuda, Rocky Mountains

It was less than a year ago that Danny Rubino first visited the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, yet he’s already earned his 400-hour volunteer award sticker. “I was looking for a volunteer opportunity related to education and the environmental stewardship, and a friend suggested the Coastal Center.  As soon as I visited, I knew this was the place I wanted to be.”

Danny works as an exhibit guide and sometimes helps with additional research projects. He also serves as a turtle scout for the annual turtle walks. A college softball coach for more than 15 years, Danny began volunteering for Florida Oceanographic Society during his recovery from colon cancer. His coaching experience and his passion for teaching make him a natural with the Coastal Center’s young visitors. He also holds an associate degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in history. “We’re a unique learning experience for children,” notes Danny. “Once they see all of the marine life here or touch a stingray, they’re hooked. I’m here to help spark that enthusiasm.”

A Florida native, Danny has a lifelong interest in the environment. He volunteered at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, and also worked as a turtle scout on several beaches before his coaching career took him to Georgia, the Carolinas and international tournaments. During this transitional time, he’s re-immersed himself in his interest, volunteering at the Hobe Sound Nature Center as well as at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. Recently, he also took a part-time position at Jupiter’s scenic Riverbend Park, where he assists in designing education programs which integrate nature and history for elementary school students.

It’s clear Danny has a passion and a talent for helping people aim high, especially kids. With his mentorship, five of his former softball players are now in promising marine science careers. He has coached many high school students in sports camps and clinics, always offering advice on what they can do to prepare themselves well for success in college and beyond. When he finds a young visitor particularly interested in his touch tank marine life, he often secures a chance for that child to speak with one of the Center’s scientists or education staff.

“When I watch kids put their hands on a horseshoe crab or sea urchin in the touch tank, and they watch and touch something they wouldn’t normally see, it takes on a whole new meaning for that child,” says Danny. “I live for this stuff!”

Danny Rubino Snapshot
Recently read: Guns Across the Loxahatchee
Favorite eats: Pusateri’s Chicago Pizza
Hobbies: Snorkeling, kayaking, reading history books
Cheers for: His coaching friends’ softball teams
Alma mater: Young Harris College
State record-holder: “I was the smallest baby ever born in Florida at that time.”

Intern Angelina Bruno Likes Hands-On Learning at Florida Oceanographic

When Angelina Bruno decides to do something, she commits. Angelina volunteers 25-30 hours each week as an Animal Care Intern, helping to prepare food, clean habitats and target-train the many marine residents at Florida Oceanographic. On her days off, she is pursuing a degree in neuroscience at Florida Atlantic University.

“I’ve always wanted to work with animals, and thought I’d be a vet until I volunteered for an animal clinic,” says Angelina. “FAU’s neuroscience program will give me the science foundation I need for a career in animal behavior.  With my internship, I’m learning all kinds of things I wouldn’t get in the classroom.”

Growing up in Jensen Beach, Angelina had visited Florida Oceanographic many times as a child. She felt it would offer a strong opportunity for gaining hands-on experience with animals. Since starting her internship in May, she’s already given more than 300 hours.

“I love the learning-by-doing here, and interacting with the animals has peaked my interest in so many ways,” notes Angelina. “For instance, I never really gave sharks much thought, but working with the ten nurse sharks here every day and seeing how they respond so quickly to target-training has led me to take much more notice of them.”

“If I had to pick a favorite task here, it would be interacting with the sea turtles,” she adds. “They all have such individual personalities. We clean their shells every week, and it’s clear that Turt really loves it! I’ve enjoyed getting to know each of them.”

When Angelina can take a spare moment from her college studies and volunteer work, she puts her energy into a charity she started with some friends about 18 months ago. The Jonathan Swanson Project (JSProject.org) aims to encourage education, support research, and bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention.

“I’ve learned that if you are going to do something, you should give it your all,” says Angelina. “You will earn the respect of the people around you, and you will get more out of it yourself. I’ve had the leeway to do that here at Florida Oceanographic, and it’s been a tremendous experience.”

Angelina Bruno Snapshot
Born in: Jensen Beach
Spare time: On the water in her 22’ Wellcraft
Hangout spot: Carson’s Tavern
Pets: 2 chinchillas and 2 cats
Favorite college class: Biological Basis of Behavior (how the brain works)