Area Bids Farewell To Prominent Residents

A dance teacher to generations, a well-known drummer, a television meteorologist and a civil rights activist were among those whose lives helped shape and define the Tampa Bay area.

Joe Spicola, 75, Jan. 28. The prominent Tampa lawyer served as Hillsborough County state attorney in the early 1970s and was general counsel to Gov. Bob Martinez.

John Iorio, 82, Feb. 7. The father of Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio was a popular English professor at the University of South Florida for three decades.

John Winter, 39, April 5. Winter's humor and friendly demeanor on the air made the News Channel 8 meteorologist immensely popular with viewers. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Christopher M. North, 21, April 21. The Army private first class from Sarasota was killed by an improvised explosive device while serving in Iraq.

Michael D. Thomas, 34, April 27. The Army staff sergeant from Seffner, a graduate of Armwood High School, was killed by gunfire and a rocket-propelled grenade while serving in Afghanistan.

Peter Woodall, 25, April 27. The Marine sergeant from Sarasota, a graduate of Riverview High School, died trying to diffuse an IED while serving in Iraq.

Russell "Rusty" Dixon, 32, April 29. A popular driver at East Bay Raceway Park, Dixon had victories in 10 different classes of asphalt and dirt racing. He died in a motorcycle accident.

James H. Shimberg Jr., 84, June 15. The Tampa developer of Town 'N Country was a longtime philanthropist who helped many local charities and institutions, among them the Judeo-Christian free health clinic and University Community Hospital.

Joshua D. Brown, 26, June 2. The Army private first class from Tampa was killed by an IED while serving in Iraq.

Robert A. Surber, 24, June 3. The Army sergeant from Inverness was killed by an IED while serving in Iraq.

Jonathan M. Rossi, 20, July 1. The Army private first class from Safety Harbor, a graduate of Countryside High School, was killed by an IED while serving in Iraq.

Brandon K. Bobb, 20, July 17. The Army private first class from Riverview, a Riverview High School graduate, was killed by an IED while serving in Iraq.

Cody C. Grater, 20, July 29. The Army private first class from Spring Hill was killed by mortar rounds while serving in Iraq.

John Kiser, 55, Aug 3. The first player to sign with the University of South Florida basketball program, Kiser was also the first to score a goal for USF. He died of complications from surgery in Noblesville, Ind.

Henry Bohler, 82, Aug. 10. One of the famous Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, Bohler was an early civil rights fighter in Tampa. He successfully sued the city in 1962 to desegregate the parks and recreation centers.

David A. Heringes, 36, Aug. 24. The Army sergeant first class from Tampa, a Leto High School graduate, was killed by an IED while serving in Iraq.

Cory L. Clark, 25, Aug. 28. The Army sergeant from Plant City, a Durant High School graduate, was killed by a suicide bomber while serving in Afghanistan.

Bob Thomas, 83, Sept. 2. The philanthropist founded Joshua House, a shelter for abused and neglected children, and donated to many other charities. He was the chairman of American Agricultural Chemical Corp.

Hughie Thomasson, 55, Sept. 9. The Brooksville guitarist was founding member of The Outlaws, a popular Southern rock band based in Tampa. He died of an apparent heart attack.

Jeff Wood, 42, Sept. 12. He was a popular drummer with a number of Tampa bands, including Mooncalves, Forgotten Apostles, Joe Popp, Spiller and Barely Pink, and the duo Nutrajet with Greg Reinel. He died of a brain tumor.

Trevor Purcell, 62, Sept. 25. The Jamaican-born professor was a popular teacher and chairman of the University of South Florida Department of African Studies.

Sammie Argintar, 87, Oct. 11. The Ybor City native was the second-generation owner of Max Argintar Men's Wear, which closed in 2004 after 96 years in business.

Jackie Loto, 68, Nov. 17. Known as "Miss Jackie," Loto ran a dance studio for 40 years and was the longtime choreographer of The Gasparilla Coronation Ball.

Richard Bowers, 77, Nov. 29. He helped build the University of South Florida's athletic programs as director from 1963 to 1982 and later became an important fundraiser for the Museum of Science & Industry and the Gold Shield Foundation, which raises money for fallen police officers and firefighters.

Alan Wright, 54, Dec. 21. Known as "Mr. River" because of his work to restore the Hillsborough River, he was a planner with the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission. He died of cancer.

Philip Morgan