Board Of Directors
President
Barbara Edgar
Barbara Edgar Lifetime resident of Islamorada, living in Lower Matecumbe since 1952 when only seven other families shared the island. Presently a Realtor and President of the Matecumbe Historical Trust, a present board member and past chair for the Village of Islamorada’s Historic Preservation Commission, a board member for the Historic San Carlos Institute in Key West and an Islamorada Chamber of Commerce ambassador. Daughter of Irving and Jeane Eyster who were Florida Keys historians for almost 70 years. Worked with my father for decades volunteering for many historical and preservation projects. Past owner and operator of Cinnamon’s men’s and women’s retail clothing store. Past board member of Arc of the Keys and secretary and board of director for the Florida Keys board of Realtors. Past member of the Institute of Maya Studies traveling to Guatemala and Mexico to visit the ruins several times.
Vice President
Clay Crockett
Clay is an 8th generation Floridian who was entrenched in early Florida history by stories, pictures, and artifacts told and handed down from his Great Grandparents. FL west coast to east coast cattle drives (and vice versa), Citrus grove cultivation, and Fruit Packing Facilities Management were staples in Clay's family background. As those industries faded and became a port of Florida History, his family transitioned into Banking, Real Estate Development, and Small Business Ventures. Clay moved to the Florida Keys in 2006 and brought his 25 years of Foodservice and Hospitality Business Leadership and education to a community that required it. Today, he owns Coral Keys Party Rentals and the Florida Keys Hot Sauce Company, both based in Islamorada. He is active with various community organizations in assisting in the preservation of the Past, Present, and Future interests of the Florida Keys.
Cinnamon Edgar
Cinnamon Edgar was born in the Florida Keys. She is the owner and operator of Florida Keys Art by Cinnamon. She is photographer and artist. Board member of the Matecumbe Historical Trust. Promotes the organization through email, at the art shows and sells merchandise for the MHT. Cinnamon was chosen Unsung Hero for her work at the Matecumbe Historical Trust events. She worked for the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce part time and volunteers at many fundraising events.
Tammie Gurgiolo
Tammie Gurgiolo was born and raised in Islamorada. Her roots run deep in the Sportfishing history of Islamorada being the daughter of legendary Capt. Don Gurgiolo. She is presently on the Village Islamorada Historic Preservation Commission and Land Acquisition Advisory Committee. Tammie is the General Manager of the historic Sunset Inn, Property Manager of historic Tea Table Key and owner of the Legendary charter boat Gonfishin V. Tammie loves fishing offshore and the backcountry in her spare time. Preserving Florida Keys history is important and she can be found walking the shorelines and woods for artifacts.
Jerald Lee O’Cathey
Jerald (“Jerry”) O’Cathey was brought into this world on the afternoon of October 7, 1946, due to Hurricane #6 at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida. Born to an Eastern Airlines family, he was to grow up in Cutler Ridge, South Miami, with Biscayne Bay as his backyard. Not destined to lead an inactive life, Jerry would later receive his higher education in New York and Arizona, earning his B.S and M.S. in Political Science and Economics. Marjory, his mother would later remarry (1978) to Franklin J. Kalteux, of Plantation Key.
Anecdotally and of Historical significance, as an indirect result of Franklin’s evolving Tropical Atlantic Shores Subdivision construction, a “spoil island” was formed on the edge of Tavernier Creek Channel at the point of deposit(s). As nature would have it, the island would continue to grow, culminating in 1992, with Senator Bob Graham, through the U.S. Board of Geographic Name Changes, officially designating this spit of land as Kalteux Key.
Due to family medical issues, O’Cathey relocated to Plantation Key where he would become involved as a realtor, commercial fisherman, and owner-operator of Floridaze Dive Center. In 1994, due in large part to his Interregional Fire Suppression Fire training, he was selected to join the Monroe County workforce as an Emergency Management Administrator. He maintained this position until his retirement as Senior Planner in 2013. Jerry would continue to serve the Upper Keys community in various roles such as Vice President, Historical Preservation Society of the Upper Keys, President of Bayridge Corporation Board of Directors, Advisory Board Member of JOY, Inc., and Commissioner of the Historical Preservation Commission. In his vocation, he holds professional memberships in FEPA (Florida Emergency Preparedness Association) and President of Florida Society of Certified Public Managers.
Rafael A. Penalver
- Born in Havana, Cuba, he came to the United States in 1961 at the age of nine.
- Obtained BS, BA and JD degrees from the University of Miami.
- Licensed to practice law in Florida and Washington, DC.
- Specializes in real estate, receivership law, international law and human rights advocacy.
- Legal advisor to Consulate General of Spain in Miami since 1980 and just named as Honorary Consul of Spain for the Florida Keys and Key West.
Former chair of State of Florida Commission on Hispanic Affairs, entity that represented Florida’s growing Hispanic population in 1970’s and 1980’s when many Hispanics were not yet US citizens.
Led 40-year effort to save historic San Carlos Institute, Cuban patriotic and educational center founded in Key West, Florida in 1871. Serves as president of Institute’s board of directors. The San Carlos is a multi-purpose facility that serves as museum of Cuban history, library, art gallery and 500-seat theatre.
Led successful campaign to save the Freedom Tower in Miami when a developer proposed demolishingpart of historic landmark to build a 50-story condominium adjacent to it.
Worked with Bishop Agustin Roman of Miami in denouncing the indefinite detention of close to 10,000 Cuban refugees who came to this country in the Mariel Boatlift of 1980. Led the negotiations with the
White House, the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons that brought peaceful resolution to the Atlanta and Oakdale prison uprisings in 1987 with the establishment of a review process for the
detainees. The Atlanta and Oakdale prison uprisings in which 140 federal guards were held as hostages, remain, to this date, the largest prison uprisings in American history.
Founder and president of Due Process, Inc., an organization that denounces human rights violations in Cuba and opposed practice of indefinite immigration detention in the United States. Participated in case before US Supreme Court that ended practice of indefinite immigration detention. Received special commendation from Florida Supreme Court and Pro Iglesia Medal from Pope John Paul II for his efforts.
Regular commentator on legal and political issues on CNN International, Univision, Telemundo and France 24.