Thank you for visiting The islander Newspaper Online.

We are currently updating our website to provide you better service and function.
If you would like to access the new site, please, click here: The islander Newspaper

Sorry for any inconvenience. Our new site and service will resume shortly.

Web Master

The Award Winning & Best News on Anna Maria Island, FL Since 1992

"The Award Winning & Best News on Anna Maria Island, FL Since 1992"

Tuesday, Mar, 19, 2024
Florida Press Assn. Award-Winning Web Site
Home Latest News Weather Sports Real Estate Classifieds Island Guide islander Store

 SECTIONS

 • 

Main News

 • 

Classifieds

 • 

Opinions

 • 

Streetlife

 • 

Calendar

 • 

Fishing

 • 

Sports

 • 

Real Estate

 • 

Obituaries

 • 

Weather

 Features

 • 

Cortez Cook Off: The Results

 • 

Anna Maria Island Bridge FDOT replacement bridge

 • 

National Hurricane Center (Atlantic)

 • 

Advanced Search

 • 

I love AMI

 • 

Mystery Story

 • 

Fishing Laws

 Classifieds

 • 

Classifieds Page

 • 

Place An AD

 • 

Items for Sale

 • 

Garage Sale

 • 

Estate Sale

 • 

Announcments

 • 

Lost & Found

 • 

Pets

 • 

Transportation

 • 

Boats & Boating

 • 

Fishing

 • 

Kids 4 Hire

 • 

Help Wanted

 • 

Health Care

 • 

Services

 • 

Lawn & Garden

 • 

Landscaping

 • 

Home Improvement

 • 

Business Opportunities

 • 

Rentals

 • 

Real Estate

 Weather

 • 

Today's Forecast

 • 

10 Day Forecast

 • 

Today's Tides

 • 

Emergency e-mail

 • 

Storm Watch

 Archive

 • 

News Archive

 • 

2009 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2008 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2007 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2006 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2005 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2004 Top Notch Gallery

 Useful Links

 • 

Island Links

 • 

i.wed

 • 

islander Store

 • 

About this Site

 Contact Us

 • 

islander Store

 • 

Subscribe

 • 

About Us

 • 

e-mail us

Story Tools

Holmes Beach official Saunders died Feb. 22

/3-4-09/obit-saunders.jpg
In Saunders' honor
Mayor Rich Bohnenberger and City Commissioners Pat Geyer, Sandy Haas-Martens, Pat Morton, John Monetti and David Zaccagnino stand in silence in memory of Bill Saunders. The assistant public works superintendent and building official died Feb. 22 at Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care in Sarasota. A private memorial took place last week and plans are being made for a public service. islander Photo: Lisa Neff
/3-4-09/obit-saunders-drawing.jpg
Millie Saunders said the drawing by Judy Titsworth given to her at the memorial service "is so fitting to Bill, and all the more so since his ashes will be put in the Gulf of Mexico in a setting almost exactly as Judy drew it.."

Holmes Beach Mayor Rich Bohnenberger said he was shocked to learn that building official William “Bill” Saunders had died.

Saunders, 76, of Holmes Beach, died Feb. 22.

“I knew he was struggling, but I didn’t expect to lose him so quickly,” Bohnenberger said, recalling that he had hired Saunders in March 1996 as a part-time building official and a job that quickly went to full-time in July.

Bohnenberger recalled, “I was home ironing a shirt to wear to a meeting that night and Bill called, responding to a request for an interview, so I asked him to come by the house.

“It was a sort of ‘shirt-sleeve’ interview,” the mayor continued, “a typical Island interview, the sort of thing that just happens in a small town.”

Saunders has left a void at Holmes Beach city hall, where the folks who answer the phones didn’t quite know what to say to people asking for him.

The mayor said he told the staff to tell people “Bill won’t be back,” but, he added, it wasn’t easy.

“He’d been on sick leave on and off for several months, and, just within the past few weeks, wife Millie had inquired on Bill’s behalf about disability,” Bohnenberger said.

“He was a great asset for the city, and a great friend,” the mayor said. “He’ll be missed.”

Born in Ashland, Va., Saunders moved to Sarasota 25 years ago from Washington, D.C., then to Holmes Beach.

He was the building official for Holmes Beach, as well as serving on occasions as interim building official for Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach. He was a general contractor and concrete contractor. He was past president of the Anna Maria Island Rotary Club.

A memorial service for friends and family was held on the beach last week. Memorial contributions may be made to Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota FL 34239, or Little Angels Dog Rescue, 3288 S.E. Hansel Ave., Arcadia FL 34266.

He is survived by wife Millie: daughters Susan Bondi, Mae MacKenzie of Paris, France, Jennifer Lignon of New York, and Shawn Schneider of Parrish, Fla.; son Joe of California; brothers in Virginia and Georgia; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Get breaking news

Follow the islander on TwitterBecome a fan of The islander on Facebook

Sign up to receive breaking news alerts via e-mail. We'll send you a notice when the news and classifieds appear online every week, before the print edition hits the streets.

Click here for Gulf oil spill updates related to Anna Maria Island.

Historic Anna Maria City Pier Plank Walk

Put your name, your message, your memorial on the Historic Anna Maria City Pier prior to the Pier Centennial Celebration! And join the fun!

CLICK HERE for Stoltzfus e-mails and related court documents.


FREE Island
Vacation Guide:
get it here

Cortez Cookoff

Click here for 2010 Cortez Cookoff Winner and recipes

To advertise here, please
visit our rates page
or contact us at:
sales@islander.org
Phone: (941) 778-7978
Fax: (941) 778-9392

Back to top of Page

Home | Weather | Real Estate | Classifieds | Archives | Contact | Island Links
islander Store | Subscribe About this site | Classifieds Page | Place an Ad
For Sale | Garage Sales | Announcements | Lost & Found | Pets | Transportation
Boats & Boating | Fishing | Kids for Hire | Help Wanted | Health Care | Services
Lawn & Garden | Landscaping | Home Improvement | Business Opportunities | Rentals | Real Estate

Our Privacy and Copyright Statements © 1992 - 2009, The islander