CORTEZ – With weeks of hard work behind them of cleaning up flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene, Star Fish Company Dockside Restaurant and Seafood Market reopened on Oct. 31.
“Mother Nature always wins, but human nature will always come back,” Star Fish manager Jim Gowett said seeing the full lunch crowd at the outdoor landmark restaurant.
Customers enjoying lunch at Star Fish Company restaurant’s Oct. 31 reopening following hurricane clean up. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Gowett has worked at Star Fish Company for 26 years and as manager for eight. He said the buildings there had never gotten water before.
Following the storm surge from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27 more than two feet of water got into the buildings, carrying along with it mud and silt.
“We came here right after the hurricane and we were in shock,” he said. “We didn’t even know where to start.”
Gowett said the staff then got to work on cleaning every item in the restaurant and seafood shop.
“We cleaned every shell, every bottle,” he said. “We had this cleaned up and ready to go a week ago, but like everyone else, our coolers and equipment got destroyed with the water, so we were waiting for new ones to be delivered.”
Following Hurricane Helene, broken dock planks were scattered on the dock and tables were overturned by the force of the water.
Star Fish owner Karen Bell said it took a lot of work to get everything back together.
“The docks were a mess, and we are still missing the floating dock,” she said. “All the kitchen equipment had to be replaced due to flood water. But we got it done and I am so happy to be open.”
The docks at Star Fish Company were damaged by storm surge from Hurricane Helene. Following repairs and cleanup, the restaurant and seafood market reopened on Oct. 31. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Star Fish has a long history as a Cortez landmark.
According to the Star Fish Company website, it was started in the early 1920s by Judge Millis. Gaylord Garner purchased the business in the 1950s and his son Allen took it over in the late 1980s.
It was primarily a wholesale company before the addition of the retail market in the 1960s.
“In 1996 Allen Garner sold the company to its current owner, Karen Bell. Karen felt that in addition to offering the public fresh seafood in the retail market, it made sense to start offering cooked seafood also. A small kitchen was upgraded and eight picnic tables were placed on the back dock. A restaurant was born,” the Star Fish website states.
The Star Fish Company restaurant serves locally harvested seafood from Cortez fishermen. Outdoor seating provides views of the local commercial fishing fleet and Sarasota Bay.
The Star Fish Company Seafood Market features seafood from local waters including grouper, snapper, mullet and stone crab claws.
Star Fish Company is located at 12306 46th Avenue W. in Cortez.
BRADENTON BEACH – Longtime Cortez and Bradenton Beach resident Marty Tupin passed away on Aug. 1, just a few weeks before his 63rd birthday.
Over the years, Marty was a commercial fisherman, a fiberglass and metal fabricator, an artist, a furniture maker, and more. After a portion of his right leg was amputated, Marty spent his final couple years as the ever-vigilant parking attendant at the Drift In bar in Bradenton Beach, where he zipped around on his three-wheeled electric scooter supervising the sometimes challenging two-deep, tandem parking reserved for patrons only.
Marty Tupin spent his final years patrolling the Drift In parking lot. – Submitted
The Drift In, 120 Bridge St., will host a celebration of life on Sunday, August 27, at 2 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring a dish to share and to share their memories of Marty.
Marty’s family will host a celebration of life at the Star Fish Company restaurant in Cortez, at 12306 46th Ave. W. on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Life’s challenges
Marty’s sister, Judy (Tupin) Mossorofo, lives in Venice with her husband, Charles Mossorofo, and they shared their insights on Marty’s colorful and sometimes challenging life.
Marty was born in Medina, Ohio. When he was about a year old and Judy was two, their parents were in an automobile accident in Butler, Georgia that killed their mom, Elsie, a former Manatee County schoolteacher.
Marty’s dad, Lynn, had family ties to the Cortez commercial fishing community and was a commercial fisherman himself. After the accident, he and the children moved to Manatee County, where the siblings lived with various family members before being placed in separate foster homes.
“All four of us got split up. We didn’t grow up together,” Judy said of their fractured family.
Marty loved his son, Cory Herrick. – Submitted
Judy said Marty began his commercial fishing career in Cortez in the 1980s.
“He loved fishing and crabbing. His friends were commercial fishermen and shrimpers and he worked the docks at the AP Bell Fish Company. He loved catching fish and bringing them to all his friends. He fiber-glassed a lot of boats and he was really good at that. He mended nets too. He also loved painting, making metal sculptures and building and painting wooden chairs and benches. He loved working with his hands. He was very creative. He was a fabulous artist. He was a good father and he loved his dogs too,” Judy said.
Marty Tupin spent many years working as a commercial fisherman. – Submitted
Judy can’t remember exactly when it happened, but she said Marty was in a motorcycle accident that seriously injured his right leg and impacted the rest of his life.
“Later, his leg hurt so bad that he couldn’t walk. It got so badly infected that they had to cut the foot off at the ankle. It then spread up his leg and more of his leg was amputated because of bad circulation and sepsis,” Judy said, noting some toes on his left foot were later amputated too.
In mid-July, Marty became seriously ill and was hospitalized. His left leg was amputated in an attempt to save his life and he was later moved to Tidewell Hospice in Bradenton where he spent his final days, visited by family and friends.
Regarding his late brother-in-law, Charles said, “I’m from New York City. I met Marty 23 years ago when I first came down here with Judy. This guy was just beaming with life. He’d tell me stories about being a commercial fisherman and getting off the boat for a burger and a beer at a bar. He certainly had a lust for life and the open sea.
“We didn’t see each other often, but I was close to him. He lived life completely on his own terms and he did it without being malicious. Marty got grumpy sometimes, but he was all heart and we never argued. I taught him it was OK to agree to disagree and we did that for 23 years. He was a remarkable, beautiful man. He had a heart of gold,” Charles said.
Friends aplenty
Drift In Manager Doreen Flynn said, “I called him ‘Mr. Crotchety’ but I loved him and I wish he was still here. He worked here for the past couple of years but I knew him for 15 years. He used to bring me my fish and shrimp and he taught me to freeze fish in water in a bag so it was fresh when you took it out. He was dealt some tough cards but he always kept his head up and he did not want anyone to know he was in pain every day. He will be deeply missed. He drank Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Icehouse beer and we’re going to have an Icehouse special on the 27th.”
Joy Nelson hosts bingo and deals bar poker at the Drift.
She said, “Words to describe my friend: arrogant, funny, straightforward, loving, caring, hard-headed and more. There was never a question about what he was thinking about you. You could be a stranger or a great friend and he never held back. He was completely real and he encouraged me to be the same. He didn’t have an easy life, but he won at bar poker all the time, so I figured he was at least lucky at one thing. But after he went into the hospital for the last time, I realized I was wrong. He was lucky that he found our crazy Drift In family and somehow fit in. We could all butt heads at times and then share a drink and laugh together at the end of the night. I miss my friend,” Nelson said.
Drift In patron Mike Cunningham said, “Most people’s first impression of Marty was that he was a little prickly, but if you accepted him as he was and took the time to get to know him you would find he was a straight-up guy and a true friend. I miss his honesty, humor and frankness. The setbacks he had the last couple of years never changed the good things I loved about him.”
Drift In patron Rebecca Brodeur said, “I loved him. I went to see him during his last days. He was a good, old friend. I went to elementary school with him. He was a stinker even on the bus and at school, but he had a good heart and he was a good person. He wasn’t just a parking lot attendant. He was a great fisherman and artist too.”
As an artist, Marty Tupin worked in many mediums. – Submitted
Local musician Mike McConnell said, “Marty was one of those salty characters that made up the diversity at the Drift In. Our relationship was contentious at first but I believe we regarded each other as friends and we worked together at the most unique watering hole in America.”
Marty Tupin enjoyed time spent on the water. – Submitted
Drift In patron Tammi McCoy said, “Every morning I’d pass by on my way to yoga and Marty would always wave to me. I loved Marty. He was a really good guy.
Her husband Greg, said, “You had to avoid that damn scooter he was on because he’d about run you over.”
With the help from the Drift In and Beach’N Bikes & Rentals, Marty’s scooter was donated to Cortezian and fellow-amputee Kathy Barnett, per the family’s request.
Marty’s family donated his mobility scooter to Kathy Barnett. – Submitted
When asked about Marty, AP Bell and Star Fish Company owner Karen Bell said, “He hadn’t been around here a lot lately, but he used to be in the village all the time when he fished and lived up in Popeye’s apartment. He was kind of a jack of all trades who usually crewed on someone else’s boat. He was as committed to his art as much as anything else and he really enjoyed painting fish on glass. He had a good heart, but he also had an edginess to him.”
Marty Tupin enjoyed painting fish on glass backgrounds. – Sarah Santos | Submitted
Charter captain and cousin Kathe Tupin Fannon, said, “Marty had the ability to piss you off but he also had the ability to make you like him. I am sure when he made it to the front gates of Heaven he was explaining to God how to run Heaven.”
Facebook tributes
Marty’s passing also generated many Facebook comments.
Drift In owner Derek Williams wrote: “I bought the Drift-In in December 2022. Marty was one of the first people to offer me a hand. He loved his Drift family and he truly had pride in our business, our parking lot and his job. He earned every tip and he made people laugh.”
Former Drift In bartender Sharon Bell wrote: “Marty was one-of-a-kind for sure; my salty parking pirate. I think his drive and spirit were so strong that he willed himself into living the past few years. He enjoyed being the center of attention and truly loved being generous. I remember him offering his food and if you didn’t take at least a little it hurt his feelings. He was a pot-stirrer for sure, but kind at his core. He was a hard worker that wanted to contribute and be as independent as he could. We are less for not having him around to antagonize us with his antics. He will be missed and always remembered.”
Sarah Santos and Heather McNeal were among Marty’s many friends. – Sarah Santos | Submitted
Charter captain and Sports Lounge bartender Sarah Santos wrote: “I met Marty a little over 12 years ago when I lived across from Starfish Co. in the village. He was the sweetest man and always made me feel like a million bucks! We will all miss him dearly. He was so talented.”
Sunshine Bechler wrote: “Rest in Peace Marty. Thanks for squeezing me in and out a time or two.”
Commercial fishing was one of Marty Tupin’s many passions. – Submitted
