Blue skies forever
Originally published April 25, 2007
Updated Nov. 3, 2008
Capt. Tony Tarracino died Nov. 1 after being hospitalized about a week with a heart and lung condition, according his wife Mary. "He loved Key West and everyone here," she told the AP. "I've heard him called the conscience of Key West." Tony was 92.
Tony was one of my first portals into Key West during my visits in the 1980s. My pal Jimmy Buffett sang about Tony's exploits in "Last Mango in Paris," from the 1985 album of the same name. Here's an edited blog from the last time I saw Tony. He was hanging around the bar even though he had sold it in 1989. I'm glad I wrote it down:
Capt. Tony Tarracino is 90 years old.
A couple nights a week he still holds court behind a large tip jar at Captain Tony's Saloon, the original Sloppy Joe's at 428 Greene St. [During Ernest Hemingway's 1930s Key West years, this was the building he adjourned to after a day of writing.]
The tip jar is always full because Capt. Tony's stories are priceless.
Capt. Tony hitchiked to Key West in 1947 with $12 and a penchant for 7 come 11. A fierce gambler, Capt. Tony was running from the New Jersey mob. When I started visiting Key West regularly in the early 1980s, Capt. Tony gave me gambling tips at the old greyhound race track on Stock Island.
He was a shrimper and captain of a charter boat called "Greyhound." He was a caretaker for Tennesee Williams' monkeys. Capt. Tony participated in the Haitian invasion in the mid-1960s and the Bay of Pigs rescue. Stuart Whitman portrayed Capt. Tony in the 1980 movie "The Cuba Crossing." He ran for Key West mayor five times--one of his failed campaigns was managed by Jimmy Buffett. Capt. Tony finally was elected mayor in 1989. He has called his two-year term "the greatest two years of my life.".............
About a week ago I was on a freelance assignment in Key West, Fla.
I needed to find Capt. Tony, who is arguably the city's most beloved resident.........
About a week ago I was on a freelance assignment in Key West, Fla.
I needed to find Capt. Tony, who is arguably the city's most beloved resident. My friend Conchita Fritter accompanied me to the dark saloon.
She sat near the faded John Prine barstool, watching from a distance as Capt. Tony spun stories as if they were plates on his nubby fingertips. He has been married at least three times and has 14 children. One long-lost son, Keith Famie, turned up as a contestant on "Survivor II". Capt. Tony had not spoken to him in seven years. But Capt. Tony is the original Survivor. He says the only exercise he gets is "going to other people's funerals."
I told Capt. Tony how I remembered his 1980's house act of Curly n' Lil. They were South Florida retirees who sang vintage country songs and fussed about amplifier settings between tunes. I was married back then. My wife and I would watch them leave Capt. Tony's with Curly carrying his small amp and Lil clutching the evening's tip jar as they faded away down Greene Street.
That seemed something to aspire to.
Last week Capt. Tony wore creased grey slacks and a natty sportshirt. He looked better than me. He sat near a souvenir stand that sold black and white picture posters of his mayoral campain slogan: "All you need in this life is a tremendous sex drive and a great ego. Brains don't mean shit." He paid more attention to female visitors than me. I didn't get all of what I came in looking for, but I got something better.
He handed Conchita Fritter a neatly folded piece of white paper.
Capt. Tony instructed us not to open the paper up until we got back to our motel. His old eyes sparkled like the scotch Hemingway used to drink in the joint. I thought the letter would contain some sort of ribald joke or commentary. Of course we opened it up about about a block away from the saloon, safely out of Capt. Tony's radar. The letter was typewritten and double spaced. Here it is. I don't think Capt. Tony would mind:
To My Father
I am currently eighteen years old, and when I was born, I had no idea that my family would be so odd and different. My father is currently eighty-eight years old, and was seventy when my mother had me. I grew up my whole life with a father who could have been my great-grandfather in some other families. But there is a difference between my father and other people his age. His body is old, but his mind is as sharp as mine, if not even sharper.
I agree that people do stereotype others by their ages, for example I know that the person who is reading this probably at first thought, 'Wow, that's so weird, how could this person's father be so old?' I know this because I have heard it my whole life, over and over again. Growing up I would make new friends, and they would find out how old my father was, and they would begin to make presumptions about how he lives his life. Most people, like my friends would start to create images in their heads about what my father looked like, they would picture an old man hunched over with a cane, no hair and suspenders. But after they met him, they ended up thinking he was really cool, and how he wasn't how they expected him to be.
This is because my father never let himself fall under the stereotype of an eighty-eight year old man, he has always been, and always will be Capt. Tony, and nothing else.
The point I am trying to make, is that in all of my father's life, he never looked at an opportunity and said to himself, 'I'm too old to do this, or I'm too young to do this.' He always did what he felt and said what he wanted to. I have come to strongly believe that the reason why people find him so interesting is that he has never followed the same path as others have done his age. He found his own path, cleared a way, and has always fought through every obstacle until he could come over it. He is the definition of 'When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.' I think he fought his whole life, just to be his own person, and to show people that it's ok to be yourself.----TJ Tarracino. 3/7/05.
I could joke around and presume Capt. Tony sent his son's essay my way because I was one of the more seasoned people in the bar on that evening, but I don't presume I need a pep talk to be myself. I bet its more than that. Hemingway wrote "To Have and Have Not" in Key West.
Capt. Tony knows the difference.
Dave Hoekstra has been a 
Captain Tony's is the best bar in Key West (next to Margaritaville). I was fortunate enough to meet The Captain 4 or 5 years ago(they kinda run together after a while)and it was one of the most memorable moments in my life. He is absolutely delightful, we had a wonderful chat and he signed my t-shirt for me, asked if he could have a kiss and (I was wearing my bathing suit top)then politely asked if he could hold my large breast. I was so shocked and taken aback I couldn't help but say yes. I have made it a point to look for that sweet gentleman every year since. I hope to get to see him this year when we go down for MOTM in November.
Thanks Theresa!
I like the Green Parrot, too!!!--Dave
I thought it was interesting that Cap't. Tony gave you the typed copy from his son TJ. After talking to him for a while at the saloon one night in March of 2006 he handed me an autographed copy of three letters from his children (TJ, "Gobie", and Meg) on Father's Day. He asked me to wait until morning time to open up the letters. How neat to learn a little about his personal life!
Jessica
8/07
the sharing of these is a Capt.Tony trademark. Fathers day weekend 2004, he gave me a photocopied page from daughter Josie's journal that told of a 24 hour period before 1998 Fantasy fest that she had given to him with his fathers day card, I watched him for three hours that night,no one else got any thing handed to them but signed souvenirs, we had arrived at the usual 7 pm just by chance together, the wife and I on foot, he getting out of a silver Crown Victoria, darn near stepped on my foot, he stopped, reached into his pocket, and handed it to me," I thought you'd be here, got something for you" he said, I told him to take care of the "boat people" and I would come over and talk, this was such an emotional evening for me, I had been thinking of my departed father, just a weird coming together of thing, I even wrote a short story about the whole day, just popped into the old noggin', freaky cause he treated me like a long lost son that day, freakier, I had hung out with him just 20 or so times over 20 years !!
Thanks Walt!
I had the pleasure of meeting Capt Tont last summer 7/19/07. I have long been told stories of Capt Tony and his tales of Key West the Mob and Jimmy Buffett. I found the remarkable man to be everyting that was described to me. I am so pleased that I had this opportunity to meet him before his long trip to that beautiful Island in the sky. So long Capt Tony you will forever be in our hearts and minds.
My wife Gwen and I enjoyed listening to Capt Tony tell stories about old Key West. He cared about people and that feeling was relected back to him.
A legend never dies.
Chuck and Gwen Rothauser
Sugarloaf Shores, FL
For the last several years, my wife and I have vacationed with our two children in Key West. My children's favorite place to go was Captain Tony's to see him. He always had a sparkle in his eyes when he saw kid, mine included. My kids play in their bath tub every night with Captain Tony's drink cups. They will miss seeing him in February. I will too.
Our annual Thanksgiving week visit to Key West will be different year knowing that Capt Tony has passed on. We were fortunate enough to meet him in 2005 and spend a few minutes with him again last Thanksgiving week. Capt Tony's Saloon will always be on our must visit list when we are down island. We have a tribute wall in our kitchen to the Capt. and every visitor always enjoys our stories of visits to Key West. We will miss you Capt. Tony.
I have long been a fan. I met Tony like most of you, a few years ago in the bar with Tony sitting in front of a tip jar. My 2 daughters and I had a picture taken with him and to this day it is one of my favorite memories.
God Spped Tony!
Wendell
Minneapolis
My wife and I go to Key West every year during the month of May. We met Captain Tony about four years ago and received one of his letters. Going to see Captain Tony was one of the high lights of each trip to Key West and due to his advanced age we always wondered if he would be on his stool by the tip jar when we got there. The news of his passing has saddened both of us. We will go to Captain Tony's next May and will drink a Captain Tony's Ale
and remember our friend and acquaintance. He was a legend and his memory will never die. God Speed Tony.
Forrest & Janet Mitchell
Orlando, Florida
My first visit to Key West was in 1977 and hung out at Two Friends Bar. I never made it to Capt Tony's. I returned in Feb/08 and a friend (Key West regular visitor)said I had to go to Capt Tony's Saloon. I did, bought a tank top which Capt Tony autographed and had the good fortune of chatting with him. He said the tips in the jar were to pay for his trip to Vegas. He had the women mesmerised. I returned Oct/08 with another friend who wanted to meet the MAN. Unfortunately, Capt Tony's was not feeling well to make his usual appearance at the saloon. How fortunate I was to meet Capt. Tony.
Just wanted to say thanks for printing my comment from back on May 30 of 2007! I did get to see Captain Tony @ MOTM in 2007 and once again received my yearly kiss, with a little "french" added, and as he did every year politely asked to hold my "large breast" and left his signature on it as well. I went for my yearly escape to paradise this past November for MOTM and purchased a copy of his book, spoke w/the co-writer and inquired about seeing my favorite island man. I was saddened greatly when he informed me that Captain Tony would not be available for signings as he was in the hospital due to illness. There was a silence in the air on Sunday Morning, 11/2/08 when the front page headlines of the Key West Citizen informed us all that the Captain had sailed into his final sunset. I am very grateful that I had the pleasure to meet such a man (and be touched, literally) and have the pictures of us together from each year we met for a brief reunion in Key West.
Safe Travel Captain T!
With Fond Remembrance,
Theresa Truett
Hartsville, South Carolina
I had the great pleasure of meeting Capt.Tony at Capt.Tony's in July 2008. We shared some stories and I asked him to tell me something that I did not know. He thought a moment and replied, "men are pigs and they are always horny". I got a kick out of that. My husband took a photo of us and it is a part of my screensaver so I get to re-live the visit daily. I've read the letter he gave me, written by his children. I wish I could have known him in his earlier years,but; thanks to Jimmy Buffett we were intruduced to the unforgettable character who "Ate The Last Mango In Paris".
I had the pleasure of meeting Capt Tony in January of 2007. He had his tip jar at his side and telling his story of going to Vegas to hook up with a stripper. And had several pictures taken with him. I put the 8x10 in a frame and have it in my tiki bar at my house. I look at it often and remember my visit with capt tony. Also I lived in Key West for 9 months in the late 70's and capt tonys was a regular stop for me along with sloppy joes. Key West is an awesome place and amazing it's in the US. To me is is nothing like the rest of the states, it's a world of its own.
What's to say. The best memory was to be there and experience it. Sail on Captain.
Dave
Brick, N.J.
i performed at captain tony's around the time of curly and lil. they were a fun act and extremely nice people. whenever i'd return to key west i made it a point to see tony. he could usually be found in the club around 1AM. every time i would introduce a woman to him..she would become his "next fiancee". i contributed $100 to his mayoral cmpaign...the only time i've ever given any candidate money. he will be missed.
I first ran across Capt. Tony in 1969 - I was assigned to a USMC F-4 "Phantom" outfit flying hotpad out of NAS Bocca Chica. For the life of me I could not understand how such an old man (remember - I was 22 then) could round up so many young - good looking women. I went back again a year later - same Capt. just more women.
Howard
I had the pleasure of meeting this man. His life and adventures were more than could be poured into a short visit. I bought him a beer and he bought me one back. His eyes held more than could be told in one night. Thanks for courageous souls. They are hard to find...
I met Captain Tony at a local bar outside of Detroit. We were celebrating his birthday - I forget which one. Anyway, I went to the bar because there was a rumor Buffett would show up (he was in town performing). I introduced myself to Tony, and he wouldn't leave me alone the rest of the night. I have the pictures to prove it! His family was there too - because it was his birthday. Fins to the left! Fins to the right! I was the new bait in town...
We were in Captain Tony's one night and I asked if he could take a picture of me and my wife. This was just a couple years ago. He faked like he was having trouble with the camera and while I was looking at it, he goosed my wife and gave me a smile and a wink!!!! How could I be mad at Capt. Tony?? What a guy.
Capt.Tony was always a favorite of my husband and mine. We never failed to go see him when we visited Key West during our time share from the Galleon. I always got to sit on his lap and got the kiss on the cheek that I always adored. One year while talking to him, he said I reminded him of Doris Day and every year after that when he would see us coming to see him, he would say "There is my Doris Day". In 2009 we went to Key West during our usual time in May and as we entered his bar, I noticed he wasn't sitting where he normally sat and I was told he had died a few months before. I can honestly say, he will be truly missed and that part of Key West will never be the same.........
im also surprised to here about captain tony....t mack and me used ta go down there every morning for an orange juice and a joke for years.....then every once in a while we would run into heavey duty...he was one crazy fu man chew
I live here in Ferndale Michigan I worked for Captain Tony he was an extroadinary man I have a giant picture of him which he signed what a grezt man.
I was a sailor back in the mid 1960's in a US Navy destroyer. We called at Key West a few times when we operated as school ship for the fleet sonar school. My first time there, we asked some local guts what they sis for fun. They said "we drive to Miami for the weekend". The ship rec fund paid for a boat to take us fishing on the weekend. The boat was Captain Tony's. He stopped at our ship and picek us up. We caught a bunch of yellow tails and silver snaps, and a few groupers. Captain tony would consult his fish finder sonar and tell us when it waas ok to drop our lines. I dropped my line once without permission and Captsin Tony had to wait while I cranked my line in before we couls start the boat up. He was pretty annoyed with me. When I got my line up, it had a nice sized grouper, abour six lbs on it. I really did not care then that Captain Tony was upset. It ons one of onlt 2 fish I caught that day. We went a few more time after that.
The crew on captain Tony's boat included a helmsman who was a pretty young blond woman. She was a barmaid at captain Tony's bar. She and Captain Tony invited us to his bar that night.
The first time we went to Captain Tony's Bar, we noticed that there was no door. It was just open to the street. There was a bouncer who was a stocky woman who was wearing a man's three piece suit (with vest) and a tie and a man's hat. She looked very capable. There was a framed photo of Catain Tony dated in the 1950's with a caption that said it was the last time anyone had seen Captain Tony wearing shoes. Behind the bar were suspended from the ceiling, sailor's flat hats fro navies all over the world. That was in 1966. In tohse days we were all in white uniforms We were not permitted to keep civilian clothes aboard ship.
I remember that Captain Tony had run for mayor. The only recreation for us was to go to bars and fish and we did plenty of both.
i became friends with captain tony in 1997. he was a hoot and i photographed him all over the island. just as i did in this photo aboard the schooner america which was docked behind the schooner wharf bar in 1999.
In March 2005 my family was in Keys for week traveling around and stayed in Key West for 2 days . Soon I heard the stories of where the REAL Sloppy Joes originated and where it was on Greene St. While the wife and daughters were more interested in shoppin I wnted to Know history. Wasn't long before I found The place and wandered in on a Sunny Afternoon bout 3:00 pm. There was hardly anyone in the ole' musty smellin darkish saloon. I ordered a pint and walked round a bit and was then looking at the souvenir stand/bar off to the side-- T shirts , cups and more. I asked the guy behind the counter Who was Capt Tony or was he still around or What? He said "Sure he's around!" and then motioned with a side tilt of his head toward the Door..."Right over there". Sure enough there was Capt. Tony half sittin on a stool in the shadows next to the front door. I had a video camera and asked if he minded if I did a little video of him. He said ..."Hell no, go right ahead"! we talked a bit and i asked him more questions ...then i said "Well if you don't mind me askin , How old are ya Capt. Tony? He stated..." Well I'm 93 and I don't need no Fuckin Viagra to get it up either...That's for damn sure"!!! He then gave a big grin and we both had a good laugh . Right away he pulled out some color xerox copied photos of him and Jimmy Buffet from a concert in 2005 . He was signing them for $10.00 apiece and I also got a sighed T shirt too. It was a great experience and the picture is hung on my office wall with a collage of other Key West pic's ....Hemmingways House , Sunsets , Earnies boat- Pilar, and it all evocs one big Margarita Ville Dream....I'll get back there one day!!!
With a sad heart I pay homage to a great man for myself but more so for my father who has long since made the circle. I used to go with my father to his bar as a child in the fifties and my father and Capt"n Tony would talk as I played inside and outside. Several years ago my little brother was in Key West and I had asked him to have a drink for me, I recived a phone call from Tony"s with everyone yelling for the the salute.
I have very fond memories of Tony and those times are still with me. You are sorely missed Capt'n, your stories and your welcome laugh will always ring in the ears of those who knew you..................................Dennis