By Peter Roos
March was Women’s History Month. In March last year, we recalled local hero June Hurley Young, famous for her years as host of Romper Room, and for her son Sean Hurley, who runs the family real estate empire in Pass-a-Grille, but remembered even more fondly in her role as undisputed savior of our most famous landmark, the Don Cesar Resort and Spa, which had a close call with the wrecking ball. You can learn more about her and the Don on our website, where you can find the last 10 of Paradise News 30 years of history, available for online reading or download, as you wish. www.paradisenewsfl.com/june-hurley-young-celebrating-a-true-renaissance-womans-full-life
In the past 30 days we celebrated the lives of two beach women worth remembering here. I have never been a fan of funerals, but the newer way of looking at things, to celebrate the lives of the recently departed, makes it a great way to share experiences with members of your acquaintance’s family in a more celebratory fashion. We recently joined the extensive Hubbard family at a celebration for Wilson and Loraine Hubbard’s eldest daughter Patricia, and for Betty Hurley, whose husband, Frank, was remembered in Paradise News in April 2024.
Wilson Hubbard started catching bait for the bait shop in Pass-a-Grille very young and owned it while still in his teens. He married Loraine Walls from Chicago, and they settled with two other families on otherwise deserted Pine Key, now part of Tierra Verde. They had four children in four years, Michael, Patricia, Kathleen and Tommy, living in a shack with no power or water. Loraine washed a ton of diapers in sea water. Wilson was a pilot and a poker player during the war, coming back with cash he invested in Pass-a-Grille businesses near what was then called Hubbard’s Pier at Eighth Street in Pass-a-Grille. When Pass-a-Grille “got too crowded,” Wilson had moved his fishing business a few miles north to the south tip of Madeira Beach, then bare land, and started John’s Pass. Wilson and Lorraine eventually had four more children, including son Mark, who eventually took over the fishing business and recently passed it on to his son Dylan.
Sister Kathleen ran the Friendly Fisherman Restaurant and Patricia ran Hubbard Enterprises, which included rental real estate and eventually the building of the parking structure. There is a great recap of Hubbard Family History online by St. Pete Catalyst www.stpetecatalyst.com/vintage-pinellas-enigma-of-captain-wilson-hubbard.
Betty Hurley was born Oct. 06, 1928, in Atlanta, Ga., the daughter of the late Brainerd and Christine Reynolds. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank T. Hurley, and her daughter, Christina Marie. She was a longstanding member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, in south St. Pete. She is survived by her son, Charles Guisinger, his wife Debbie, granddaughters Patrice Freeman, Lynne Hilaga, and Lisa Enos; and five great grandchildren.
As a young girl, Betty took private piano lessons, and eventually mastered the piano, playing classical as well as swing, pop, jazz, and R&B, to include “boogie-woogie.” She also taught piano. For her career, Betty joined the Federal Dept. of Commerce in South Georgia. When an opening occurred in St. Pete in 1968, she accepted the position, relocated to St. Pete, where she quickly fell in love with the area, and eventually retired from the agency.
Betty was a world traveler who really enjoyed many overseas jaunts. She chronicled her travels with many photos and thoughtful commentaries.
Betty immersed herself in many activities:
- Church choir
- Sunday school teacher
- Active Pass-a-Grille & St. Petersburg Yacht Club member
- Volunteer for Gulf Beaches Historical Museum
- Pass-a-Grille Woman’s Club, and the DAR.
She took up sailing, and became quite proficient, winning some trophies along the way; she truly loved living by the water and enjoying the many activities it provided. While at the S.P.Y.C., she joined the “Nauti-cats,” “Broad-reachers,” and“Salty sisters.”
The Nauti-cats are the St. Petersburg Yacht Club’s all-volunteer choral group, a dozen of whom sang “Farewell to Betty” at her celebration. With her deep musical understanding and keen ear, she enjoyed using her season tickets to The Florida Orchestra, along with their “coffee concert” series. Her yacht club friends miss her already.
The first person I met on my arrival in St. Pete Beach was a Chamber of Commerce volunteer named Gerry Ingram (pictured in featured image). I met her the next day at the library, the following day at the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum and then as a volunteer for a Pass-a-Grille Art Gallery. I think for a time she even answered the phone at city hall. I learned from her daughter, Sandie Lyman, that Geraldine’s volunteering passion preceded her and her husband Al’s move to paradise for the winters. She had voluntarily become their hometown library’s collection agent, collecting an amazing amount of past due book fees. Gerry was born in Ridley Park, Penn. on Nov. 15, 1926, to Grant C. and Delma H. (Boston) Dinmore of Glenolden, Penn. She graduated from Glen-Nor High School where she met the love of her life Al Ingram. Gerry is predeceased by her sister, D. Patricia Gross, her grandson Ryan E. Ingram, and her husband of 73 years, Alfred E. Ingram.
She is survived by her brother, Dr. Grant C. Dinmore, her children, Sandra (TJ) Lyman, Sheryl (Bill) Smith, and Alan Ingram. Her eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and three step great grandchildren were her pride and joy. Gerry and Al lived in Norwood, Penn., Crystal Beach, Md., and St Pete Beach. She will be fondly remembered by the many friends she made and the organizations they belonged to. The day after Christmas 2024 was the last for Gerry Ingram, whose celebration of life will be held at Pass-a-Grille Community Church on May 31 with reception at Warren Webster.