Fmr. Key West Mayor Captain Tony Passes Away

cbs4.com ^ | Nov. 1, 2008

[jsh3180]

KEY WEST (CBS4) ― Key West residents are mourning the loss of a legendary former Key West bar owner and former mayor.

Anthony "Captain Tony" Tarracino passed away Saturday afternoon, according to his wife of 38 years. He was 92 years old and had been hospitalized for about a week with a heart and lung condition.

His wife and seven of his children shared stories in his hospital room shortly before his death. A viewing is planned for Friday evening in Key West, with a service scheduled for Saturday morning. A reception for family and friends at Captain Tony's Saloon will follow.

Captain Tony arrived in Key West from New Jersey in 1948. Ten years later, he purchased a bar on Greene Street, calling it Captain Tony's Saloon. The bar still has the name, though it was sold in 1989.

Captain Tony was a charter boat captain, gambler and a gun runner for Cuban mercenaries during the Bay of Pigs invasion. He served as mayor of Key West from 1989 to 1991.

He married four times and fathered 13 children. A film titled "The Cuba Crossing" recounts his story; Stewart Whitman played Captain Tony. He was also memorialized by musician and longtime friend Jimmy Buffet, in the song "Last Mango in Paris." Captain Tony also authored a book with Brad Manard, called "Life Lessons of a Legend."

[jsh3180]

Don't know how many outside of South Florida have ever heard of Captain Tony Tarracino, but he was a larger than life legend in these parts. An American patriot through and through. CIA contractor running weapons to Cuba during the Bay of Pigs operation. Salt of the earth, old Capt. Tony was. A rough and tumble, brash storyteller par excellence. A man of small physical stature, but huge in heart, loyalty and wow could he charm the ladies. 92 years young and the last time I passed him on the street 18 months or so ago, he still had an unfiltered cigarette hanging out of his mouth. They don't make 'em like that any more.

RIP Captain Tony.

[JennysCool]

RIP Captain Tony. All Parrotheads are saddened today.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Amazing somebody that Conservative and patriotic could get elected Mayor in moonbat Key West. RIP.

[mc5cents]

So sorry to hear this news. My mom was born and raised in KW but moved to Miami after the 1935 Labor Day Hurrricane in which she lost several family memembers who had gone up to Islamorada for the holiday. We have visted KW many times to see my mom's old house on White St. and been in Capt. Tony's which was the original Sloppy Joe's bar. Joe Russell moved out when the landlord wanted to raise his rent $1.00! That was a rough and tumble place back in those days. My mom told me that when someone new came into town everyone asked about the "stranger". There was no highway, the railroad came in in 1912 but was blown out by the hurricane. Oh, man lots of stories to be told about that place for sure.

Anyway, RIP Capt. Tony

[mc5cents]

Amazing somebody that Conservative and patriotic could get elected Mayor in moonbat Key West. RIP.

The moonbats haven't been there that long. It started getting sort of gay in the late 70's early 80's I think. But it is still a pretty neat place. The gays there are nowhere anything like you find in San Fran or Provincetown. Very laid back.

[WellyP]

Yes, we are!

[PLMerite]

“...longtime friend Jimmy Buffet, in the song “Last Mango in Paris.” “

I went down to Captain Tony’s
To get out of the heat
When I heard a voice call out to me
‘Son, come have a seat’
I had to search my memory
when I looked into those eyes
Our lives change like the weather
but a legend never dies.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I was there for several days back in March ‘05. Took the cruise out to Dry Tortugas to see Fort Jefferson. The prices to stay there... wow. We stayed at a 2-star, and it was still almost $200 a night. I was nearly assaulted by one of their wild roosters walking down a street... I swear it was just waiting to jump out from behind a bush at me.

[fieldmarshaldj]

*Key West ping*

[NautiNurse]

Looking forward to your local story.

[Elle Bee]

I had heard yesterday

I'll be back home for the parties

most of my Capt Tony stories are a bit too ribald for FR

LOL

.

[AppyPappy]

He was great. We met him at his bar, Captain Tony’s. It was the original Sloppy Joes.