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January
2003 - Intriguing Islanders
SARA
TIFFANY
Don't confuse Sara Tiffany's artful decorative trays
with craft. Though she has earned the designation
of Master Craftsman in various styles of decorative
art, her work more appropriately is found among that
of fine artists. "It bothers me when someone
calls this work 'craft,'" she said, showing one
of her favorite trays, the red one. "This takes
a lot of work." And more than a little bit of
talent, quite obviously. Her trays are exquisite examples
of Pontypool painting, or japanning. But while the
original work is done on heavy sheet-iron trays, hers
are papier mache. The technique got its start in the
town of Pontypool in southeast Wales, known for its
manufacture of iron in the late 1600s. Japanning is
a method of finishing the iron with a high-gloss,
lacquer-like finish that imitates Japanese lacquerware,
quite fashionable at the time. Gold leaf was often
used to paint the black trays, as were various translucent
paints, to create artistic scenes and motifs. These
trays are rare now, but Tiffany has acquired a few
of them over the years. She also has some later pieces,
from the 1700s, which are made of tin rather than
iron. The walls of her Moss Creek home are filled
with early examples of the iron trays, most with the
decorative paint wearing thin. "My son says I
have too much black on the walls," she said,
smiling, "but I rather like them." Some
of her own trays perch atop custom stands and serve
as occasional tables. The intricate motifs and subtle
colors of the originals have served as her inspiration
both for her own trays and for the beautufil decorative
boxes she paints. Tiffany also has "recorded"
some of her favorite pieces onto similarly shaped
trays and onto clear acetate. These recordings, or
"patterns," are nearly exact duplicates
of the originals, so close that the inexperienced
observer might not notice the subtle differences.
"It takes a tremendous amount of time,"
Tiffany said. "You have to match the brush strokes
exactly to get the same effect that the original artist
got." She bubbles with excitement when pointing
out subtle strokes that she finds particularly enchanting.
"Look at that bird's wing. Isn't that marvelous?"
she exudes. "Look how it captures the light!"
Recording the delicate patterns and motifs is exacting
work. The art is not only in recognizing brush strokes
or color choices, but in replicating the underlayers
of color and pigment type to achieve the depth and
motion of the original. Tiffany became interested
in this form of painting when she was a young mother.
Her neighbor in northeastern Pennsylvania was an expert
in the technique, and the 20-year-old Tiffany would
often study with her at night, after Tiffany's two
young boys were asleep.
Now 71, Tiffany travels each year to France to study
historic antique furniture styles. Her second teacher
taught her photography, she said, "so I have
great records of the antiques I've seen." She
incorporates some of these styles into her own paintings.
Tiffany currently exhibits at the Hilton Head Art
League Gallery, where she is a member. She is scheduled
in the spring to teach a class locally and to give
a gallery talk on her trays in Delaware. She said
that she wants to concentrate now on the decorative
boxes. She has found a craftsman who makes the maple
containers with hinged lids in shapes that she finds
appealing. "I want to do what I enjoy,"
she said, and right now, that means the boxes. "I'm
still going to do that red tray pattern I've always
wanted to do." For Tiffany, life is exciting
when one is involved in the creative process, whether
learning a new technique or studying old ones. "Creativity
is like rocket fuel," she said. "It gives
you energy." ™
JOE CANNON
Joe Cannon, native son of South Carolina, has come
full circle back to his roots and finds them very
comfortable. Oldest son of a large family of nine
boys from Columbia, his working life took him as far
from South Carolina as possible within the continental
United States, while leisure activities took him around
the world. At last, the tug of home was too powerful
to resist and he became a permanent resident of Sea
Pines on Hilton Head Island in 1990.
His odyssey began at the tender age of 17 when, with
the realization that job and advancement opportunities
were very slim in Columbia for an ambitious and smart
black youth, his mother bundled him off to New York
City to seek his fortune. Accompanied only by the
firm faith and support of his mother and whatever
angels look out for teenagers, he arrived and, supporting
himself with whatever was available in 1937, embarked
on his life journey.
After four years of service during World War II in
an Army Air Corps Engineers Unit in the South Pacific,
Cannon seized the opportunity offered by the GI Bill
to further his education, taking courses in accounting.
After finding employment with the U.S. Postal Service,
his ability and attitude resulted in his being selected
for special training in electronics and computer operations
at a school in Andover, Massachusetts.
In 1974, he was selected to be district manager for
the U.S. Postal Service in the nationwide reorganization
and computerization of all its facilities. His region
was the Pacific Northwest, covering Washington, Oregon,
Alaska and California, and he and his wife Peggy were
sent to the home office in Seattle. Arriving on November
4, 1974, a day which inaugurated nine days of typical
Seattle downpour, they were tempted to turn and run,
but the Cannons stuck it out and were amply rewarded
with 17 years of interesting work in beautiful surroundings.
His responsibilities included oversight of initial
installation of computerization of all postal service
facilities throughout that region, plus the requisite
training of employees. While traveling in the area
he became attracted to the famous roses of the Pacific
Northwest, particularly the renowned Jackson and Perkins
roses from Oregon. Starting with six of the hardiest
hybrid tea roses, he quickly became passionate about
cultivating these beauties.
The passion has in no way diminished since moving
to the Lowcountry, though it has become increasingly
demanding, as anyone can testify who has tried it
here. But being Joe Cannon, having fought the odds
all his life and succeeded, he has done it again with
his rose garden in Sea Pines. Cannon first became
interested in Hilton Head Island through friends in
Seattle who owned a time share on the island. While
visiting those friends here, it didn't take long to
fall in love with this island, as so many do.
The Cannons purchased their first time share in Sea
Pines in 1979, before it was even built, and never
regretted it. Later they purchased another time share
in Shipyard and still own it. But in 1990 they bought
their dream house in Sea Pines and settled into very
comfortable retirement. But not idle. The rose passion
had never waned, so Cannon immediately planted his
roses on his property, only to have them totally destroyed
by deer in one night. Of course, there was no thought
of defeat. He simply started over in a plot at Heritage
Gardens and went to work where, against all odds,
he has been growing exquisite roses for 10 years.
Besides the sheer visual beauty captured in 54-60
blooming rose bushes, much enjoyment comes from giving
away armloads of exquisite blossoms to friends and
neighbors, who can scarcely believe their good fortune.
In November, many late blooms persist, particularly
a Mr. Lincoln, proudly flaunting its crimson velvet
blossoms, a carnival-hued Rio Samba and a golden Sun
Legend. Cannon points out his favorite red and white
bi-color, Double Delight and another favorite, Chicago
Peace. Describing the full flush of May bloom, its
gorgeous display and intoxicating aroma, he sums up,
"This is my heaven out here." This gentle
man is the first to say he has been blessed throughout
his life, but it is perfectly clear that it is Joe
Cannon who has done the work. ™
PAUL HAHN JR.
For some golfers, particularly those just taking up
the game, getting the club face of a standard club
to meet a tiny white golf ball squarely is reason
enough to be astounded. Imagine sending that same
ball sailing using a golf club that features a rubber
hose for a shaft or crushing it a whopping 250 yards
from atop a threefoot-high tee while you're sitting
on a sport seat. Unbelievable? Not for Hilton Head
resident Paul Hahn, Jr., who is considered to be the
foremost trick-shot golfer in the world today. It's
all in a day's "fun" for the talented golfer,
who amazes and delights audiences the world over with
more than 6,000 entertaining exhibitions. He has visited
each of the world's seven continents, including stops
in more than 50 countries, and each of the 50 United
States. The former Air Force staff sergeant has made
16 USO trips and made an appearance on the U.S.S.
Kitty Hawk, stationed outside Tokyo, on Labor Day
2002. "The military crowds are great and really
appreciate the shows," said Hahn. Both golfers
and non-golfers marvel at Hahn's ability to do things
previously thought impossible with a club and ball.
While many chalk it up to inherent talent, Hahn credits
his uncanny timing and precision to countless hours
of practice. But there's more to this "Globetrotter
of Golf" and life member of the PGA than mind-boggling
trick shots and comedic anecdotes. Hahn also possesses
a vast comprehension of the game of golf and the mechanics
of the golf swing. This understanding, combined with
his friendly and accessible demeanor, makes him one
of the most sought after instructors by golfers of
various ages and skill levels. Even some of the most
experienced golfers boast game improvement as a result
of attending one of Hahn's clinics. Hahn has performed
on golf courses, on indoor and outdoor stages, participated
in many major golf tournaments and even appeared on
network television. In 1986, Hahn appeared in a shoe
commercial during which he had to hit a ball out of
some brave soul's mouth. The University of South Carolina
graduate credits Bob Toski of Golf Digest Schools
fame with helping build his career. He also met his
wife of 16 years, Betsy, during a golf tournament.
Hahn and the former Raleigh, North Carolina schoolteacher
have made Hilton Head their permanent home since 1992.
Although Hahn still enjoys traveling and has worked
"every charity ever invented," he enjoys
being home and spending time with his wife and daughters.
"Not one deluxe suite in the world is as good
as your own bed," Hahn said with a content chuckle.
He returned to Hilton Head because of all it has to
offer. Hahn explained, "Hilton Head has four
seasons, the greatest seafood, the sweetest shrimp,
and offers a great lifestyle." When not performing
exhibitions, Hahn is a golf professional at Palmetto
Dunes and Palmetto Hall where he offers group and
individual lessons and conducts one- and two-day schools
that cover all aspects of the game. The mere thought
of all he's accomplished would tire many people, but
Hahn is feeling youthful and fit as ever. "My
Dad said you turn 18 and add life experiences, but
you never grow old," said Hahn. Gifted golfer,
good-humored world adventurer and charitable family
man - Hahn owns his own curling stone. Who wouldn't
pay to see what he does with that? ™
LOUISE COHEN
Louise Miller Cohen draws from the past when she talks
about her life or shares a vivid tale about life on
Hilton Head Island. A native of Hilton Head, Cohen,
59, is a storyteller who captures audiences - young
and old - with renditions of Gullah tales she heard
as a youngster growing up on the island. Telling stories,
doing shouts, talking about plants used for medicine
and speaking Gullah are all part of Cohen's quest
to preserve a way of life that existed before the
island's development phase.
"I kept reading that the Gullah language and
lifestyle were becoming extinct," said Cohen,
whose entry into storytelling and historical preservation
started with her involvement in the island's annual
Gullah Celebration. "I remember being at a meeting
for the Gullah Celebration, and when we were asked
if we knew anyone locally who could speak Gullah,
no one came up with a name," Cohen recalled.
Cohen's interest was sparked then, but it took several
other encounters with different people before she
stepped forward to express what was in her heart.
"Something in me said, 'You need to do this.
Who can better talk about Hilton Head Gullah than
the people who lived it?' I wrestled with this for
a long time," Cohen said. She prayed about it
to God, seeking divine inspiration to help her with
a decision. Two years ago, she stepped out of her
shell and began to share her culture with others.
Since that time, she has appeared at the Gullah Celebration
(sponsored annually on the island by the Native Island
Business and Community Affairs Association), school
programs, local and regional festivals, college campuses
and conferences. At a recent program on the island,
Cohen, a woman of tall and regal stature, had the
audience laughing hard at her Gullah tale of a boy
being admonished by his papa for telling a preacher
how his papa had stolen the reverend's sheep to make
stew for a family supper. She then sang a shout -
the Gullah way of singing a religious song - and moving
rhythmically to the beat. "In the old days, there
would be 'stick man' pounding his stick on the wooden
church floor to make a beat for the song," Cohen
told the audience. "But tonight I'm gonna use
my hands to start this beat and get this song going."
Within seconds, the audience had joined in, clapping
their hands and giving Cohen the beat she needed.
She put her hands on her hips and sashayed around
to the stage while singing her song. The stories that
Cohen tells and the songs she sings are those she
heard as a young child, and some she learned from
others. "When I was growing up as a child, I
would hear Mama and some of the older people telling
stories. We weren't allowed to be around the older
people when they were talking, but we would try to
listen to them anyway. They didn't know we were listening,"
Cohen said. But there's much more than stories that
Cohen shares from her culture - like wine making,
using plants for medicine and defining the meaning
of Gullah words. She has started her own Gullah dictionary.
"Every time I think of a word and remember how
it was said in Gullah, I write it down," she
said. Cohen said she wants to preserve as much of
her culture as she can, and she believes strongly
in sharing it with young people. "They really
need to know about their history and how we did things
in the old days. They will be able to pass it on.
I feel strongly that this is my calling now - preserving
the history and passing it on," said Cohen, who
has spent the last 22 years selling figurines, pictures
and other items for Home Interiors, a business based
from her home on Farmer's Club Road, just off Wild
Horse Road. In October, she attended and spoke at
the conference of the National Trust for Historic
Preservation in Cleveland, Ohio. "People there
came up to me and told me how glad they were to hear
of the Gullah culture. Some people who had been to
Hilton Head were surprised that they didn't see more
of this culture when they were here," Cohen said.
"That let me know there is a need to preserve
our (the Gullah) heritage on Hilton Head." ™
RABBI MARK COVITZ
After graduating from Brandis University, Boston,
in 1992, Ohio native Mark Covitz moved to Los Angeles
because he felt the acting business beckoning. He
was a funny man on the stand-up comedy circuit until
1993 when he decided to heed a different calling -
to become a rabbi. Covitz lived in Jerusalem for one
year then finished his rabbi studies in Cincinnati.
His next move relocated him to Denver, Colorado, where
he became the director of a Jewish summer camp and
taught second-graders at a day school. Covitz fondly
recalled his own experiences as a kid attending Jewish
summer camp in Indiana and thought youth work would
provide a way for him to give other kids similar positive
experiences and a value structure. "I enjoyed
attending summer camp. We had fun but it was intertwined
with learning and values. I wanted to help other kids
benefit from something like that." He added with
a smile, "I was also searching for something
meaningful. I wanted to validate my existence."
Not only did Covitz find the opportunity for meaningful
contribution, but he met his future wife and step
daughters as well. "I met my wife at the end
of summer camp during a family weekend she attended
with her two daughters. We were engaged two months
later and married five months after that," he
said. So how did he find his way to Hilton Head? "I
visited Hilton Head when a friend of mine was married
here a few years ago and liked it very much. I was
searching for a rabbi position when a job opened up
in Hilton Head," Covitz said. Recalling the favorable
climate and community, Covitz packed up his family
and brought them to their new home. "As soon
as my wife and daughters (now 6 and 8) stepped off
the plane, they loved it," he said. Covitz is
now the Rabbi at the congregation Beth Yam Synagogue,
located on Meeting street (off of Main Street), on
the north end of the island. When not working, this
Buckeyes/Steelers fan enjoys watching football, listening
to music, reading and bowling. "I keep my bowling
ball in the car and have it on hand in case of any
'emergency
bowling' that might come up," he explained with
a grin. Covitz's greatest hobby, however, is being
a husband and dad to his three daughters (the newest
arrived in October 2002). He said, "My hobby
used to be kids and youth work; now I enjoy playing
with my own kids every day." Although there isn't
much television viewing taking place in the Covitz
household, you can bet that they were eagerly tuning
in to catch the rabbi making his second appearance
on the popular "The Weakest Link" series.
The first episode aired on September 10, 2001 and
the other in November 2002. Covitz said, "We
don't watch much TV because we read and do activities
together and because I just don't find a lot of prime-time
programs appropriate for kids. People let their kids
watch shows that lack values and then wonder, 'Why
are kids acting so badly?'" he said. At Beth
Yam, Covitz practices the "Reform" movement
of Judaism, which is more liberal than the Orthodox
and Conservative movements. "Reform is the largest
movement that grows consistently every year and has
members from different backgrounds. It allows you
to be Jewish and still be a partner in the modern
world. It's all about making the world a better
place," he said. Covitz added, "A big part
of my work for Jewish people, working for God, is
demonstrating being a happy person. Otherwise, I'm
not representing my 'boss' very well." He doesn't
put too much emphasis on his kids to represent their
dad, but Judaism is definitely a part of their household.
"Pressure makes preachers' children rebel. We
teach them that religion is about how you treat people
and what values you have." Covitz said he went
to rabbinic school to be a better Jewish role model
and a better person. He maintains a sense of warmth
and humor that he uses to bond the congregation and
feels a strong link to his new community. Beaming,
Covitz said, "I have a beautiful wife and beautiful
kids; I'm doing a job that I love and work with wonderful
people. It's a great match, and I get to live in Hilton
Head before retiring." That's something to beam
about. ™
JIMMY BAKER
It is quite fitting that Jimmy Baker works for an
energy provider, because "energy" describes
the driving force in his approach to life and work.
At the age of 49, Baker stays busier than some folks
half his age. His professional life as vice president
of marketing and public relations for Palmetto Electric
Cooperative keeps him on the road in three counties
during the week. Weekends are for family, church,
a little fishing, maybe golf and dabbling in his other
favorite hobby of collecting baseball memorabilia.
Volunteer activities require a generous time commitment
as well. For now, Baker wouldn't have it any other
way. "I enjoy the diversity of my job,"
he said. "Every day brings a new challenge."
His duties include supervising Palmetto Electric's
advertising campaigns and news media messages, developing
new programs and services, handling government relations,
and working with new residential and commercial developments
to negotiate electric service agreements. Then there
are the work-related "extras" that occupy
his time. Baker said, "I'm proud to have been
an original member of the
board of Touchstone Energy," a national organization
of electric cooperatives working together under a
"brand name."
Currently, he is an ex-officio member of the board
for the 600-member group. "I also represent Palmetto
Electric in the community," Baker said, meaning
Jasper, Hampton and Southern Beaufort counties, the
service area for the co-op. This could be a full-time
job in itself, as the utility's board is very supportive
of community efforts. "I've had the opportunity
to serve in many capacities." Among his current
and previous memberships are Rotary, Home Builders
Association, Jasper County School Board, Board of
Directors of the Academy for Career Excellence, and
Jasper County Transportation Authority. And he's cochair
for the American Heart Association's 2003 Heartwalk.
A native and lifelong resident of South Carolina,
Baker attended Anderson Junior College and graduated
from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
He lived on Hilton Head for a while, and now resides
in Ridgeland with his wife of 20 years and their two
sons. Before joining the cooperative, the worked for
the Jasper County Assessor's Office, In 1977, at the
age of 24, he became the youngest assessor in South
Carolina. In 1979, he was offered the position of
Energy Conservation Specialist with the cooperative.
He was responsible for developing and implementing
an energy efficiency plan as part of a federal loan
requirement. The plan that he drafted was good enough
to earn the President's Award for Energy Efficiency
in 1980. Baker moved through the ranks at Palmetto
Electric to member services, then became District
Office Manager for Hilton Head in 1981. In 23 years,
Baker says, he has seen some tremendous changes in
the community, the biggest being overall growth and
traffic. "I can remember when people would call
for directions, and I'd just say 'Come over the bridge
and turn right at the first traffic light.' That was
the
Pineland light," he said. The island office is
still located on Mathews Drive, but Baker said he'd
have to stop and count how many traffic lights it
is past the bridge. Baker's church and his faith are
important parts of his life too. He and his family
are members of Ridgeland Baptist Church, where he
served on various committees over the past 15 years.
Baker also is on the Advisory Board for the "Week
of Champions," which brings Christian professional
athletes to this area to work with young sports enthusiasts
and bring a Christian message to them. He has a busy
life, Baker says, but he truly enjoys what he does.
"I think I've got one of the greatest jobs in
this area," he said with a grin. "Every
day is exciting and new." ™
BARBARA HUDSON
On most mornings when Barbara Hudson rises, she slips
into a pair of jeans and a jacket and heads down to
her dock where shrimp trawlers take off for their
daily catch during the shrimping season. Hudson isn't
just going there to take a glimpse of picturesque
shrimp boats as they glide from the dock or peek at
waters rippling from muddy banks. Hudson goes to work.
"I've worked all my life. I wouldn't know what
to do with myself if I didn't," said Hudson,
who is a self-described workaholic. She owns Benny
Hudson Seafood, the business her late husband Benny
started 22 years ago. She is one of a few women in
South Carolina who own and operate wholesale seafood
businesses. "The females who have been left to
do this kind of work, for the most part, are widows
of husbands who were involved heavily in seafood.
It's a difficult business, but I enjoy it. It's a
lot of hard work." she said. "I handle the
docks and run the retail end. They (shrimpers) can
dock here, but everything they catch, I buy. I can
sell everything they pull out of the river,"
Hudson said confidently. Both her home and her business
sit side by side off Squire Pope Road, bordering Skull
Creek. Hudson treasures the local waters because of
the livelihood they have brought to many islanders,
including her own family. Hudson moved here with her
family when she was 10 years old and has been involved
with seafood businesses for more than 30 years. "Daddy
moved us here in 1956 just after the bridge was built.
The road was paved from the bridge to Palmetto Dunes,
and then it was dirt road the rest of the way,"
Hudson said. Hudson was the first hostess at the world-renowned
Hudson's Seafood House on the Docks, a business her
husband also started in 1968 and later sold. For a
while, the couple lived and worked in Key West, Florida,
but returned to their Hilton Head Island home after
five years. They opened and operated a seafood market
and dock and a furniture store. They closed the furniture
store five years ago after Benny died. Hudson then
took the helm of the seafood business and has kept
it in operation ever since. As much as Hudson treasures
the businesses she has been part of, she has a deep
love for family. Benny had three children when they
married, and she had one. Her daughter Tonya and her
mother Hilda Brannen both help out with the business.
Around her neck, she wears a family heirloom - a chain
with an original gold coin owned by Benny's grandfather,
J.B. Hudson. "They had their own money back in
the 1920s when the Hudsons owned a mercantile store
on the island. If you worked for a Hudson, you were
paid with Hudson money to use at the mercantile,"
she said. Through the years, Hudson has watched the
island develop from a place where she once played
on dirt roads to the resort it is today. While she
feels development has been good for the area, she
can point to its downside. "When you look at
the development and compare it to other parts of the
country, we've done well," she said. But, she
dislikes the development limitations that have existed
on the north end of the island. She is also concerned
with the developmental impact on the environment.
"You've got more speed boats. You've got all
kinds of chemicals and fertilizers from the golf courses.
Our river is such a precious thing. People don't care
about throwing a can in the water or tossing paper
in the water. If there's anything that sets my hair
on fire, it's this," Hudson said. When she isn't
spending time with family or working, Hudson is sketching
a lighthouse she wants to eventually build. The idea
for the lighthouse came from her late husband, she
said. "In a conversation that he had with someone
about development on Hilton Head, Benny got really
upset. He told me, 'I think I'm just going to buy
me an island, build a lighthouse and live in it. That
way, I'll be up high enough so I can sit back and
watch it happen.'" ™
PAUL GROESCHEL
"I knew I would end up working again, but I didn't
know where or what," said Paul Groeschel who,
after a 30-year career with Eastman Kodak, took early
retirement in 1997 and relocated to Hilton Head with
wife Carol. He did have some criteria in mind, though.
He wanted something "as far removed from corporate
life as possible," and a pursuit that would benefit
the community. He also hoped to use his Spanish, acquired
during work assignments including finance director
for Eastman Kodak's operation in Brazil (where he
lived for six years), chief financial officer for
the Latin American region of Kodak, and
general manager of Kodak Argentina. A long-held fantasy
of joining the Senior Golf Tour fell by the wayside
after his first year here, Groeschel said, chuckling,
when playing three times a week inexplicably resulted
in his handicap going up instead of down! And then
St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church asked the Groeschels
to help start an ESL (English as Second Language)
program. Both taught classes for the first six months;
Carol is still teaching three years later. Next, the
church asked Groeschel if he would be interested in
helping Hispanic newcomers cope with a gamut of concerns:
legal issues, filing insurance claims, getting employers
to pay as promised. It was supposed to be a part-time
job. That "lasted about a month," Groeschel
said, before it became full time and has remained
so ever since. Fortuitously, he'd found the perfect
fit for his second career. Carol teamed up with him
in 1999 and now works a 30-hour week; the two have
side-by-side desks, separated by a partition, in an
office on the St. Francis campus. Many spouses would
be reluctant to work together, but Groeschel said
it's comfortable for them. "We each have our
own clients," he explained. "And we share
the same philosophy about most issues, so there's
not much conflict. Plus the divider in our office
is very helpful! I'm not looking at her all day long,"
he said playfully. Initially, Groeschel's office addressed
"adjustment issues from A to Z." It soon
became apparent that there was a significant need
for immigration services and no local attorneys providing
support, Groeschel said. When Hurricane Mitch devastated
Honduras and Nicaragua, many required help with applications
for temporary protected status, granted to those unable
to return to their homelands because of natural disaster
or military conflict. The Groeschels attended training
programs on immigration law and received accreditation
by the Board of Immigration Appeals, which allows
them to represent clients in regard to INS applications
with the same rights as an attorney. Now 90 percent
of their efforts are focused on immigration, including
securing of temporary protected status, completing
asylum applications, helping those who travel to their
home countries get permission for U.S. re-entry, and
helping permanent residents apply for citizenship.
Groeschel also works frequently with the Department
of Health on correcting birth certificates and makes
applying for quite a few individual taxpayer identification
numbers. Last year the Groeschels helped 500 Hispanics
obtain legal documentation. Other than presentations
the couple has made to community groups, their services
are promoted solely by word of mouth. "I think
we are getting to the majority of the market, low-income
Hispanics who can't afford the services of an attorney,"
Groeschel said. He stressed, however, that his office
is open to people of all religious, ethnic and racial
backgrounds. About 80 percent of clients are from
Beaufort County, yet some come from as far away as
Charleston and Augusta. Nominal fees are charged.
Groeschel also serves on the board of the Lowcountry
Legal Clinic, an organization he helped found. Yet
his busy schedule doesn't mean the leisure rewards
of retirement are completely forsaken. He golfs on
Wednesday afternoons, enjoys canoeing with Carol and
revels in time with grandchildren. And work is still
offering rewards of its own. "What I like best,"
Groeschel said, "is having a client come back
into my office and thank me for helping him. It's
totally different than focusing on shareholder earnings,
an entirely different form of satisfaction. Being
in an environment where you can help people and improve
the quality of their lives - that's why we're here."
™
DR.CLARENCE EDMONDSON
Why would an established dental surgeon from South
Jersey retire to Hilton Head, South Carolina and become
the pastor of the only traditional church on Daufuskie
Island? Because, said his wife Deborah, "Dr.
Clarence Edmondson is a kind-hearted man who can't
say no." And because four years ago, Edmondson
saw a need and felt he was the right man to meet it
at the First Union African Baptist Church on Daufuskie
Island. The opportunity and calling became clear after
asking God for direction concerning a tugging he felt
in his heart towards ministry. "God wants us
to ask for things, but now I realize I ought to be
specific," Edmondson joked. That is because one
Friday in 1985, he was seeing spots. By Sunday, he
had gone through five hours of surgery, and on Monday
was told that due to a severe retina detachment disorder,
he would never practice surgery again. Edmondson decided
then that it was time to complete his ministerial
studies, which he had begun at Philadelphia College
of Bible. He went on to graduate from Lutheran Theological
Seminary. Without a doubt, Edmondson's remarkable
background contributed to his subsequent successful
endeavors. His father was a coal miner with a fourth-grade
education, and his mother had only a sixth-grade education.
Nevertheless, both parents were extremely supportive
of their children's schooling, and all three Edmondson
children became professionals. Sadly, Edmondson's
mother died before seeing her son become what she
always knew he would be - a caring Christian who was
also a doctor. Edmondson's undergraduate degree from
Talladega College in Alabama put him on the right
track to get his graduate degree from Howard University's
School of Dentistry. He also served his country as
a captain in the United States Air Force from 1962
to 1967. Islander Debi Lynes discovered this intriguing
man at 5:30 in the morning while excercising at Break
Through Fitness Center. "Dr. Edmondson has my
respect because instead of sitting back on his laurels
in retirement, he delved into a challenging second
career," said Lynes. To keep in shape, stay active
and extend his energy he runs, bikes, does Tai Chi,
and frequently indulges in his favorite pastime, fishing
- any kind of fishing, fresh or salt water, it doesn't
matter. "He loves to fish!" his wife concurred.
While Edmondson attends to his teaching ministry,
Deborah, officially known as the "pastor wife,"
also serves as church secretary. "Deborah takes
care of the church website, correspondence, oversees
the music, and a variety of other activities. She
is invaluable," said Edmondson. The makeup of
the people who attend the church (a mix of visitors,
associate members and full members with voting rights)
dictates that the ministry be diverse and inclusive
to accommodate people of different religious denominations.
Additionally, as pastor of the historical church,
Edmondson has enjoyed the challenge of integrating
New Testament church principles with practical, Biblica-
life sermons. In doing so, he has found great contentment
and feels fortunate to make the weekly round-trip
ferry ride. For the record, his ferry fees are donated;
otherwise, the small church might not be able to afford
the affable preacher. Outside the church, Edmondson
continues to influence people in the community in
the Quality Brothers and Strive to Excel programs
at Hilton Head High. He helps out
at the Boys and Girls Club because he knows "touching
one life at a time can truly make a difference and
is a great blessing." He is also the director
of long term care at Senior Capital Solutions at Plantation
Business Park where he specializes in solving financial
problems concerning seniors. In view of Edmondson's
intriguing qualities, it's a good thing he can't say
no. ™
MARK WEISNER
He hails from Medford Lakes, New Jersey ("South
Jersey"), but Mark Weisner, founder of a marketing
and events company known as Barefoot Sports, has been
a part of the Hilton Head community for 20 years and
has witnessed the island undergo vast growth and change.
Weisner made his way south when he attended Francis
Marion College in Florence, South Carolina. His interest
was not in marketing studies, but in playing soccer.
His southward journey continued and landed him at
the Holiday Inn Oceanfront where he worked as a bartender
in one of the few bars on the island at the time.
Eventually, Weisner tired of the food and beverage
business and became an ad sales executive where he
garnered much of his experience dealing with promotions
and marketing. Weisner later combined this experience
with his athleticism and founded Barefoot Sports,
a marketing and events company that specializes in
year-round participation and sporting events for adults.
Some of these events include 16 adult soccer tournaments
in the Southeast and various running races. Weisner's
organization, headquartered in the RiverWalk business
park, is very community driven and strives to positively
affect Hilton Head/Bluffton area businesses. "We
host a soccer tournament here about three times per
year, and people come from all over," he said.
"We provide quite a bit of economic impact when
we host events here, because we fill a lot of beds,
and the people who come need to eat." Weisner
added that Barefoot Sports events promote travel to
Hilton Head and helped inspire the local Chamber of
Commerce to establish a "sports council."
When determining his roster of events for the year,
Weisner says he tries to pick events that are fun
and beneficial. "We try to plan events that are
healthy and good for you, with the exception of the
two beer festivals we host," he said with a smile.
"We have a pretty full roster, but there are
eight to ten other events I'd like to do." In
regard to the island's transformation he has experienced
over the years, Weisner says that he misses "quiet
winters" but is content to keep his business
right here. "Hilton Head has been fabulous to
work with. Everyone from the police department to
the community to the businesses. There are more amenities
here now and it is a great place for our business."
Although Barefoot Sports is a private organization,
Weisner ensures that the company maintains a connection
with other recreational groups and gives back to the
community. He said, "We have a great relationship
with the Island Rec Center and Hilton Head Aquatics,
which helps out with donations. We have great local
sponsorships and community partners. Also, approximately
15 percent of every dollar we raise goes to a Hilton
Head charity." In addition to event hosting and
promotions, Weisner is also the founder of a local
health publication, Coastal Sport & Wellness,
for which his mother and brother are writers. He is
an athlete, health enthusiast, businessman and family
man who makes his wife Anna and two sons, Marko (5)
and Georgie (2- 1/2), his first priority. Weisner
has many friends here and they will concur that he
always comes through and is true to his word. "My
word is golden; I do what I say and back up anything
I say. I'm honest as a person and, as a business,
our aim is to always deliver more than we promise."
™
BOB ONORATO
Affectionately known as the "Godfather of Palmetto
Dunes," Robert C. Onorato is gearing down, but
not much. Onorato, a strong-willed, aggressive developer
who moved to Hilton Head Island 30 years ago, has
mellowed some at age 71 and turned his focus from
erecting hotels and overseeing the development of
the island's mid-section to helping his son expand
their development and consulting business and building
an upscale condominium complex on Skull Creek. It
was Onorato who guided the development of Palmetto
Dunes and its two major resort hotels, The Mall at
Shelter Cove and Shelter Cove Marina and worked with
legends Charles Fraser and Frederick Hack to preserve
the integrity of the island. "We would meet and
discuss how we were going to develop various pieces
of property - what the development standard ordinances
we were going to impose on ourselves as opposed to
what Beaufort County wanted, because their ordinances
were a heck of a lot less restrictive than what we
wanted," Onorato recalled. In 1979 Fraser and
Onorato formed Atlantic Resort Managers Inc., which
built and operated the Hilton Oceanfront Resort, formerly
known as the Mariners Inn, in 1983. Onorato held a
two-thirds interest, and Fraser's family trust owned
the rest. They recently sold the stock to Mariners
Inn Owners Association, LLC. "I've retired from
the day-to-day operation of the hotel, which takes
a lot of time and effort when you are in the hospitality
industry," said Onorato. "Now I can stay
involved in real estate development at a more leisurely
pace while continuing to be active in Rotary International,
the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and the
Community Development Corporation." A New York
City native who lived in the Bronx near Yankee Stadium,
Onorato did not start out to become a developer. He
attended the University of Arizona on a baseball scholarship,
hoping to make the big leagues. After graduating in
1952, he spent two years in the U.S. Army where he
batted .384 as a catcher on the Fort Gordon, Ga.,
baseball team while serving as an M.P. instructor
in physical education and judo. After completing his
military obligation, Onorato turned to the business
world when an injury derailed his baseball dream.
After several years of working in real estate development,
Onorato decided to start his own consulting business
and landed the Phipps family's real estate business
as one of his clients. In early 1970, he was asked
by the firm to check out some property on Hilton Head.
Onorato said he saw a real opportunity for Phipps
with Palmetto Dunes, provided the company was willing
to make some major changes and take its time. A good
developer and administrator has to run a democratic
dictatorship because that is the only way to make
things happen, Onorato said. As a result, entering
politics crossed his mind, but only briefly, and he
never really seriously considered it. "I don't
think I would make a good politician because I kind
of say it like it is," he said. "I don't
take criticism that well, and my family doesn't take
criticism of me that well. When you open your life
like a book, which is what you have to do to get into
politics, that is not something that appealed to me."
Now he is focusing on The Grandview, his condominium
project on Skull Creek. In his spare time, Onorato
likes to play golf, and he sports a 12 handicap. He
also enjoys traveling, fishing and spending time with
his wife, Patti. "We both fly fish, and we enjoy
our family and like to be with our kids," he
said. The Onoratos' son and daughter are grown and
live in the Atlanta suburbs. His son Rob is involved
in the family's development company and is overseeing
several projects on the north side of Atlanta and
in Destin, Fla. His daughter Tish, a mother of three,
has her own successful decorating business in Atlanta.
So how does Onorato explain his success as a developer
who can envision what a raw piece of land can become?
"I just feel it," he said. "You stand
there and feel it. That's what Rob is beginning to
do. That tickles me." ™
CATHY HOWARD
Surrounded by African water frogs, Madagascar hissing
roaches, Japanese masks and kites, Michelangelo's
David, homegrown yeast, and bacteria of all types,
the truth in local science teacher Cathy Howard's
words, "I'm not just about science," is
echoed in her surroundings. For the past 20 years,
the South Carolina native, who spent part of her childhood
in Japan, has strived to bring the world into her
classroom and make the world a classroom for Lowcountry
students.
A self-described "jack of all trades," Howard
has been teaching at Hilton Head High School since
1986 and working as an assistant professor at USC-B.
since 1998. Fluent in Japanese, an environmental advocate,
lover of the arts, world traveler, and mother of two,
Howard possesses bachelor's degrees in biology and
chemistry from Mary Washington University and a master's
degree in biology from the University of South Carolina.
Energetic, organized, curious, and creative are just
a few words that describe Howard. She needs to be
in order to blend her inquirybased, hands-on teaching
style with the unique ecology of the island. Her advanced-placement
biology, biology, and marine science classes venture
into the local environment to conduct labs, field
tests, or complete topographical analyses of the beach
using G.P.S. (Global Positioning Systems) satellite
data. When inside the classroom, students can be found
breeding generations of fruit flies to identify genetic
mutations or creating map units of chromosomes from
a hybrid of yeast. "Teaching students what questions
to ask
is the most challenging aspect of teaching,"
said Howard. What is the purpose of the data collected?
What will be done with it?" Opportunities abound
for students to do this in her classes; they're encouraged
to ask questions and design labs to answer them. "My
focus as a teacher is to make students stewards of
the environment and the community," continued
Howard. Under her direction, students monitor the
health of state waterways by collecting and analyzing
water samples with
the South Carolina Plankton Monitoring Project, the
results of which are used by the Department of Health
and Environmental Control and Department of Natural
Resources. As important as teaching is to Howard,
dedication to family comes first. Mention daughter
Hillary, 27, a regional account coordinator with Clinique,
or son Tyler, 21, a senior at James Madison University,
and her ever-present smile will widen and bright eyes
illuminate. Devotion to family has been a predominant
force all her life. As a teenager, she gave up her
last year of high school to help care for her dying
father.
Involvement in church and Bible studies is also a
priority, giving Howard a spiritual grounding and
enabling her to appreciate the beauty and wonder of
nature and art. The bell may ring, but it doesn't
signal the end of Howard's day. She teaches a graduate
course for first-year teachers one night a week. During
the summer, she teaches graduate courses for teachers
seeking Advanced Placement certification at three
different universities (Howard was one of the first
teachers to be certified for Advanced Placement Environmental
Science and brought the program to Beaufort County).
As a consultant for the College Board, she conducts
workshops for teachers nationwide. "Teaching
teachers is really a lot of fun for me," she
said. When not in the classroom, Howard can be found
volunteering with community theatre, arranging student
internships or volunteer opportunities, gardening,
playing piano, cooking spaghetti, or simply walking
on the beach. Stewardship, be it in the school, community,
or environment, is a value she holds dear and passes
on to others. "I want to make my students better
parents, better citizens, and better people,"
she said. ™
GINA DIGGINS \ SYLVIA PITTS
Apparently it wasn't a fluke when Sylvia Pitts flipped
through channels and paid particular attention to
a non-cut-throat reality television show called the
Amazing Race three seasons ago. The next morning,
she called Gina Diggins to ask if she had seen the
show. Diggins, already a fan of reality shows, immediately
declared, "We could do that!" Pitts and
Diggins, best friends and spirited soccer moms, knew
that they were undeniably qualified to race around
the world for a million dollar grand prize on CBS's
primetime television show, The Amazing Race 3. "Our
lives are already one big amazing race, so why not
pay us a million bucks?" - the pronouncement
taken directly from the duo's amusing audition tape.
CBS picked Pitts and Diggins out of 25,000 applicants
to represent moms everywhere based on their comical
three-minute video clip, which can be viewed at the
Amazing Race 3 website.* "Women could rule the
world if each woman would team up with one other woman,
preferably a good friend with kids the same age,"
Pitts pointed out. The intriguing duo met while attending
the University of South Carolina and became friends
at a baby shower. Both are enormously grateful to
be stay-at-home moms. Aside from being dynamic contestants
on reality television, and between play dates and
paperwork, they operate a small business that features
Pitts' artistic talents called Illustrations, Inc.
From her office at home, Diggins also keeps the books
for her husband's company, Diggins Landscaping and
Excavation. "You can't go anywhere on this island
and not run into artwork
done by Sylvia Pitts," said Diggins. If the phone
rings and it happens to be nap time, these gals have
a prearranged response. "I'm sorry, she's not
available. She has an appointment she can't possibly
miss." This tag-team strategy has helped Diggins
and Pitts maneuver through their day-to-day duties
for quite some time. "We pick up each other's
kids, we make tons of home-cooked meals for our families,
and we juggle businesses. Amazingly, Gina and I do
more than reproduce and go to Barker Field!"
said Pitts. CBS agreed. You can see Pitts' cartoon
caricatures of the AR3 teams on the Amazing Race 3's
website.* Click on a team, then "After the Race."
™
KEITH RYAN
On a morning early in November, gray stratus clouds,
which have remained stationary over the Lowcountry
the last couple of days, aren't dissipating. There
is a fine mist in the air, and the temperature is
65 degrees. It is not an ideal day for a small boat
to travel from Hilton Head to Beaufort, especially
with the fog. "I think it's a little dicey but
I'm certainly willing to do it," says the captain
of the 22-foot Boston Whaler, one hour before the
scheduled departure time. "I'm only concerned
about visibility, but I think that's going to be acceptable,"
he reassured. The captain is Keith Ryan. He stands
six feet tall and moves smoothly and confidently around
his craft, attaching his portable GPS unit to a bracket
on the center console, plugging in his cell phone
and placing his hand-held ship-to-shore radio within
easy reach. Watching the slender captain go about
his pre-voyage preparations, you would never guess
he is 88 years old. It is not until you are closer
that you see the creases and imperfections that have
come with time. Ryan, wearing a green sweater over
a white turtleneck, turns the ignition key and the
twin outboards catch instantly, emitting pungent white
smoke that smells familiar to anyone who has spent
time on the water. The smell is certainly familiar
to Ryan. He has been on the water from the age of
15, when he worked on yachts in San Diego to help
support his family. Untying the mooring lines and
pulling in the fenders, Ryan is all business. He issues
direct instructions that don't appear to be open to
interpretation. "If I want help, I'll ask for
it," he says. As the former vice president and
director of a major manufacturing company, Ryan's
aura of authority and independence has not dimmed
over the years, and a request for help never comes.
Ryan, an islander since 1979, expertly maneuvers the
boat away from the dock at the retirement community
in Hilton Head Plantation where he lives alone in
a house overlooking the water. The white-haired captain
who, until 1992, was the division operations officer
with the area Coast Guard Auxiliary, where he experienced
more than his fair share of rough weather, does not
like what he sees as he scans the horizon, noting
the thickening fog. "I have a feeling we may
turn back," he says with disappointment as he
steers eastward. Despite the warning, he presses forward
toward Port Royal Sound. Even in the mildest of conditions,
local waters are some of the most challenging Ryan
has navigated. "People who haven't run aground
are either lying or never leave the dock," he
asserts, cracking a wry grin, his mood lighter as
the boat, passing a marker with two cormorants staring
down, fights against the incoming tide. Not only partial
to area waters, the lifetime fisherman has achieved
local notoriety in Costa Rica where he landed a 125-pound
sailfish last June. The feat alone is enough to make
any angler proud but the fact that the fish, which
was later released, was caught by using a fly rod
makes it twice as noteworthy. It is the challenge
of fly fishing that appeals to Ryan, he says. Back
on land, over his lunch of crab florentine soup and
shrimp salad at a bustling Beaufort waterfront restaurant,
Ryan's mood becomes more somber and he admits some
regrets in outliving two wives, raising two children
and growing older. His first marriage was one in which
"I was in love for five years and married for
54." His second marriage, in 1994, moved him
to rename his boat "Encore" in honor of
second chances. His view on achieving success is simple:
"You can work your ass off but you've got to
be lucky. You've got to be in the right place at the
right time." And on longevity, "I think
a lot of it hinges upon how you're able to handle
stress, how you can keep focus away from your poor
self." Although he has his views, Ryan is careful
not to give people advice on how to live their lives.
He seems more concerned with living his own. He's
not exactly sure what keeps him going, but he admits,
"I'm afraid to stop." And if he stops? "I
don't want to find out," he says, "but it
won't be good." So he continues moving, back
toward Hilton Head, this time with the tide. ™
MARY AMONITTI
Mary Amonitti gets along very well with people. As
the 15th child out of 18, finding ways to get things
done in a cooperative, organized manner was instilled
early in life. Amonitti attended Harcum Junior College
and Villanova University, majoring in business with
a minor in psychology. "I worked all day and
went to school part-time for seven years. I was a
single mother with a small daughter," she said.
In addition to her early years of "playing well
with others," she learned a remarkable lesson
as she started her business career. "Prior to
1994, my former business partner and I developed a
supply company. We started with zero clients and zero
budget and together created Paragon Supply Company
in Philadelphia, which I'm proud to say is still thriving
and prospering today." Amonitti served as vice
president of operations and marketing for 13 years.
"Creating Paragon was great preparation in learning
to do just about anything in the future," she
said. "I had great people around for support
and participated in good, old-fashioned hard, hard
work. Growing up on a farm in South Carolina was hard,
hard work. Going to school, holding down a job and
raising a daughter was hard, hard work. And starting
a company from scratch was hard, hard work."
Amonitti and her husband, Dr. George Amonitti, moved
to the island permanently in 1999, and Mary went after
one more goal - her South Carolina real estate license.
She had been a successful Realtor in Pennsylvania
since 1994. She joined the team at Dunes Marketing
Group and is constantly looking for opportunities
to be involved in the community. Amonitti hosts her
own television program on WHHI-TV3, called Lowcountry
View, airing three times weekly. She also does remotes
and special events for the station, including a documentary
coming up on the serious crisis of African-American
health along the coast's sea islands. "When I
was approached about working with WHHI, the station
owner asked if I thought I could do it. I told him
I can do anything," said Amonitti. Arts and crafts
have long been a passion for Amonitti, and she uses
this pastime to benefit others. Very dear to her heart
is the Dream Blanket Project through Camp Saint Mary's,
making quilts for young mothers and mothers-to-be.
Every child will leave Camp Saint Mary's with a dream
blanket. "My hope is that these young mothers
and babies will grow and nurture each other and that
when they look at their dream blanket, they will see
that they do, indeed, have a chance for all dreams
to come true. In addition to literally protecting
the little ones, these quilts will 'protect' their
dreams." Amonitti adds a special identifying
feature - a small pocket on each quilt - "a place
to put the seeds of your dreams and watch them grow,"
she said. Other specialty items that Amonitti designs
are intricately decorated matchboxes and one-of a-kind
dolls made from gourds and other natural materials.
These little beauties can be seen at the Gullah Creation
Store at The Mall at Shelter Cove. Adding to her already
busy life, Amonitti has her hand in politics as well.
She serves on the Beaufort County Republican Executive
Committee and was campaign manager for Starletta Hairston,
who successfully became the elected county counsel
member for District 2 of Hilton Head. "I had
interviewed Mark Stanford during his primary campaign
and presented him with a gift I asked him to keep
with him at all times - a book mark with a mustard
seed to encourage him to keep the faith that he had
great support and would win the governorship,"
said Amonitti. "On the eve of the general election,
I interviewed him a second time and asked if he kept
the token. He said, 'Of course,' and his lovely wife
confirmed the fact." Amonitti will be participating
in the 2003 HHI/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Leadership
Program, serves on the Minority Business Committee
for the Chamber, is involved with the Economic Development
Committee of Bluffton, vice chairs the Beaufort County
Black Chamber of Commerce and works with the Lowcountry
CDC, which provides homebuying education classes as
assistance in obtaining a down payment and closing
costs for families trying to buy their first home.
Ready to take a breath? Mary's not! She's determined,
diversified and delighted with life. And Hilton Head
Island is lucky to be on the receiving end of that
enthusiasm. ™
BEN RACUSIN
As a former military officer who served overseas in
China, a retired CIA agent and the first person to
serve as mayor of the Town of Hilton Head Island,
Ben Racusin, 87, has certainly led an intriguing life.
But when Racusin tells his story, he modestly weaves
it in a way that produces one recurring theme. For
him, life decisions and important events seem to revolve
around the number three. Racusin, the eldest of three
boys, was born and raised in Johnsonburg, Penn. He
graduated with a liberal arts degree from Alfred University
and enrolled in law school at Dickinson University.
After three months, he quickly realized that becoming
an attorney wasn't for him and accepted an offer to
teach history and coach three sports - track, football
and boxing. In the spring of 1942, Racusin answered
Uncle Sam's call and joined the Army Air Corps as
an athletic trainer for recruits. Shortly after, he
was selected for Officers Candidate School, and became
an athletic officer at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver,
Colorado. He served in the military until December
1945. One day he was invited to attend a meeting.
He accepted, not knowing what it was about. He later
found out that the government was recruiting for hazardous
duty behind enemy lines in China. Thus began his involvement
with the Offices of Strategic Services, the predecessor
of the Central Intelligence Agency. "I had always
wanted to go China," he said. While in Shanghai,
Racusin met his bride-to-be, Helen, who was serving
in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. They met in December
and were married three months later in March. After
Helen took her discharge, she joined the remnants
of the OSS as well. Both had lengthy careers with
the CIA. They ended their tenure with the agency as
training officers in 1971. "We enjoyed that way
of life - government service, traveling and serving
our country," said Racusin, who speaks little
of his military and CIA careers except to say that
many people have a misconception that all CIA employees
are spies. The Racusins had visited Hilton Head Island
once, and in 1967, returned to check out the possibility
of purchasing property. Three days later, they paid
$12,000 cash for a lot in Sea Pines. In 1970, three
years later, they built a home and became permanent
residents in 1971. Although not intended, almost immediately
the Racusins became involved in the community, leading
and shaping the political and cultural future of the
island. Over the years each has volunteered for and
served on various boards, including the Children's
Center, Rotary, and the Hilton Head Art League, among
others. In the early 1970s, Ben Racusin was elected
head of the Hilton Head Community Association and
worked with others to incorporate the Town of Hilton
Head Island. In 1983, incorporation became a reality
and Racusin was elected as the first mayor. Racusin
ran against a good friend of his, John Curry. "I
wouldn't say I won, I just got the most votes,"
he said. "I had no idea I was going to run for
office," Racusin continued. "I came here
to improve my golf game." Three months after
Racusin was elected as the first mayor of Hilton Head
Island someone asked him if he would run again. "Definitely
not," Racusin replied, mentioning the fact that
since 1983, the Town of Hilton Head Island has had
seven mayors. Three opted not to run again for a second
term. Three ran again and were defeated. And the current
town mayor Tom Peeples is now serving his third term.
Today, the Racusins are phasing out of many of their
community activities for health reasons. "I'm
not 49 or even 59 anymore," Racusin said. Although
the Racusins have lived all over the world, they consider
Hilton Head to be their home. The two have lived here
more than 30 years, longer than they have ever lived
in one place. They currently reside at The Seabrook.
The Racusins never had any children. Racusin said
he thinks that is one of the reasons the two of them
are so close. "I'm still in love with her after
55 years of marriage," he said looking across
the living room at Helen, adding how beautiful he
finds her. ™
SANDY BENSON
If you think you need a few extra hours in your day,
walk a mile in Sandy Benson's shoes. Between raising
two growing boys and running two thriving businesses,
she could use a slower clock, or better yet, a clone.
"Some days are scary - really scary. When I visualize
the whole big picture, I think, 'I can't do that.'
I have to break it down, or it's so frightening, I
can't take another step." When the world stopped
turning in September of 2001, Benson's world was turning
upside down. Her husband of 13 years, Rob Benson,
passed away, leaving her the full responsibility of
their boys (James, age 11, and Bryan, age 12) and
their businesses (Custom Audio Video and Benson Millwork
in Bluffton). The Bensons moved to Hilton Head from
Erie, Pennsylvania in 1993. Full of hope and ambition,
Rob Benson started his Lowcountry career as a builder.
In 1996, he and Sandy established Custom Audio Video
(CAV). In January of 2000, Rob fulfilled a lifelong
dream by purchasing an existing business and establishing
Benson Millwork. The family moved to Bluffton. Just
three months later, Rob was diagnosed with lung cancer.
A year later, on his 45th birthday, he had a lung
removed. But the cancer recurred in his body. During
the course of his treatment, he developed a pulmonary
embolism and died the same day. "My life was
leveled," said Benson. You ask, 'Why me?' You
don't know why," she said. "I was left holding
the bag for everything. I've learned to cope."
Walk into either of her businesses, and you will know
that she is not merely coping, but succeeding. The
CAV showroom is a combination of audio, video, lighting,
"Smart Home" technology and custom millwork.
Benson Millwork (now located in
Okatie) is a custom millwork operation that uses hand-selected
wood from around the world to create heirloom-quality
woodwork on site, including trim, crown molding, cabinets,
entertainment centers, furniture, wood floors, engraved
signs and more. "Running one business is quite
a lot of work as well as a lot of fun," said
Benson. "Running two is a test of one's ability
to succeed." Benson attributes her success first
to God and then to her many employees who work so
hard to share in the growth and success of both businesses.
"We have shared goals, and we all strive for
the final commitment of true customer satisfaction,"
she said. As important as business is to Benson, her
primary concern is for her two young sons. "I
feel that they need more of me now," she said.
"What happens in my future will be totally dependent
on what their future brings." Benson starts her
day getting the boys fed and off to school. They attend
St. Francis Catholic School on Hilton Head. "It
(the school) has made all the difference for them,"
she said. "God's presence in our lives is so
important." Benson's parents supervise the boys
after school until she can get home to prepare dinner
and help with homework. Once the boys are tucked away
in bed, Benson tackles her bucketful of paperwork
that she brings home. "Some nights, the bucket
just has to sit there because I'm too tired to carry
it up the stairs to the computer," she said.
Benson has little time to think of herself. Just to
curl up on the couch and watch television is a luxury.
"I love being at home," she said. "That
is more of a vacation for me than anything."
Benson holds a pharmaceutical degree and maintains
her license. She hopes some day to return to that
career in some capacity, perhaps part-time on the
weekends at a local pharmacy. But for now, her days
are full and fulfilling. Sandy Benson's secret to
success is taking one step at a time. ™
JOE FRASER
When Joe Fraser packed up his family and moved permanently
to Hilton Head Island in 1964, the 25 or so people
who lived in Sea Pines Plantation at that time knew
him only as Charles' older brother and wondered what
in the world he would be doing here. What the residents
didn't know, among other things, was that brother
Joe had been coming to Hilton Head for as long as
Charles while holding down the presidency of the family
business of construction and timbering back in his
hometown of Hinesville, Georgia. The move to Hilton
Head with his late wife Becky meant bringing his four
boys, who ranged in age from infant to high school,
and asking his school-age children to commute an hour
each way to Savannah Country Day. Their fifth child,
a girl, had not yet been born. "We had four children
and five horses," said Fraser. And so began the
Sea Pines interest in horsetrails and the Lawton stables.
Joe Fraser was made senior vice president for planning
and construction and served as president of the Sea
Pines home-building subsidiary. As the years progressed
he was named president and was responsible for overall
design and construction and played a major role in
organizing the developing team for Harbour Town, Hilton
Head Plantation, River Hills, Amelia Island and Puerto
Rico's Palmas Del Mar. He also formed the local chapter
of the Association of Homebuilders, of which he is
a past president. "Charles made the speeches;
I fired the boilers," he recalled. In his quiet
manner Joe Fraser has also made an enviable name in
his own right on Hilton Head. He was honored in 1988
by the two island Presbyterian churches as the outstanding
Churchman of the Year for having established both
the churches and serving as an Elder in each, for
his ministry in the land development and covenants
of Hilton Head Island, and for his leadership and
support in attracting the Heritage of Golf Tournament
and the Family Circle Cup women's tennis tournament.
He has also played an active part in state government,
having served as a member of the state Parks, Recreation
and Tourism Commission. Closer to home he has been
on the Sea Pines Public Service Commission and Beaufort
County Joint Planning Commission. After building their
house in 1967 on a magnificent Calibogue Cay property,
the Frasers introduced sailing and sport fishing to
the island. His late wife Becky was a leading influence
in getting The Seabrook, Hilton Head's first retirement
community, opened 20 years ago. When the Hilton Head
Art League celebrated its 30th anniversary last October,
Joe Fraser's name repeatedly came up in speeches and
credits. When he built the Sea Pines Center, Fraser
offered store space at an affordable price to the
Hilton Head Art League as a place to show the works
of its member artists. As a result of that gesture,
the league enjoyed a surge of growth and interest.
"It was just good marketing," Fraser modestly
asserted. After all, he majored in marketing when
he graduated from the University of Georgia. When
the Heritage Golf Classic was first held on the Harbour
Town Golf Links in 1969, Fraser could scarcely know
that the event would evolve into the accomplishment
of which he is most proud - the establishment of and
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