Post by PyrateJohnKey West legend dies at 92
A Key West legend died peacefully at the end of a week that
celebrated
his extra-large life.
Capt. Tony Tarracino, recently memorialized in a new book, though
already unforgettable to everyone who met him, died Saturday
afternoon. He was 92.
Tarracino had been hospitalized the past week for continuing heart
and
lung problems. They forced him to miss several events planned for the
unveiling of the book, "Life Lessons of a Legend," although each
gathering was filled with people sharing memories and laughter of
their "Capt. Tony encounters."
Is this the Captain Tony mentioned in J. Buffet's 'Last Mango In Paris'? A
painful loss.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
YES!
Tarracino was the Mayor of Key West not too many years ago. With
Jimmy theoretically his campaign manager.
He was also the subject of a fictional movie called Cuba Crossing that
is an interesting look at 70's Key West, before the place started to
turn from a fishing village into a 100% plastic tourist haven.
From the Captain Tony's Bar web site (Tony sold the bar years ago but
still showed up regularly for autographs):
Anthony "Tony" Tarracino, a colorful man in his own right, was born
1916 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His father was a bootlegger and as a
youngster, he helped his father make bootleg whiskey.
Tony loved to gamble and with his brother, concocted a scheme to beat
the bookies. From a TV in his home, he was
able to receive the signals from a New Jersey racetrack. They heard
the race results before anyone else, so they were able to place bets
moments before the results were in and win.
They won so much that they ran out of bookies. Finally the scheme was
found out and one of the bookies arranged his demise. He was carried
to a dump (where Newark Airport is now) and severely beaten, left for
dead. Two days later he woke up and headed for Florida.
In 1948 Tony found his way to Hialeah to bet at Tropical Park
racetrack, in a pink Cadillac with a girlfriend from home. He gambled
away all his money, so he sent his girlfriend back home, giving her
the car. With $18 in his pocket, he hitched
a ride to Key West on a milk truck.
1958 brought the final chapter of 428 Greene St., when Captain Tony
Tarracino bought the bar from David Wolkowsky and Captain Tony's
Saloon was born.
Captain Tony, father of thirteen children by three wives, has been a
Charter Boat Captain, and a Gun Runner for Cuban mercenaries during
the Bay of Pigs (a "B" grade movie called "The Cuba Crossing" staring
Stewart Whitman as Captain Tony was shot on location in Key West at
Captain Tony's Saloon).
~~~
The bar used to have a framed Look or Life (I cannot remember which)
Magazine article about Tony, which discussed what a scoundrel he was
in the 60's.
During the last several years he would shuffle down the street and
sign autographs at Captain Tony's. When he showed up during a bike
event one year you could hear the cheers for a block away as he worked
his way through the crowd.
A few years ago he was on oxygen and still hitting on the gals that
showed up for autographs. You have to admire that sorta resolve! ;)
--PirateJohn--
http://www.PirateJohn.com
And the new blog at http://pyratejohn.blogspot.com