Tiara Towers

Tiara's very excellent Custodian, Gloria Garcia, is going on medical leave today through the remainder of 2020.   Gloria has been a very capable and most reliable custodian for several years and I know we all wish her well.   For anyone who wishes to send her a note, cards can be sent to her at 5609 NW Wesley Rd, Port St Lucie FL, 34986.

Other Elliott Merrill personnel will be assigned to fill in for Gloria.     Please welcome them when you meet them in the building.

It's that time again when we review all our owner contact information and begin to create a Tiara HomeOwners Directory for 2021.     This year we are going to use the names, phone numbers and email addresses that you have set up on Elliott Merrill's Caliber system.    Shortly after Thanksgiving Elliott Merrill will send out an email to everyone asking you to review and update or correct your contact information, along with instructions on how to access Caliber.

2020 Directory

Another way to get your information to me is to review the entries in the yellow 2020 Tiara Directory and let me know via email if there are any changes, or if there is information that should, or should not, be published in the Directory.   Although Caliber should always be kept up to date so that you receive important notices from Elliott Merrill, we will respect your wishes re the 2021 Directory if you send them to me via email to jerib99@gmail.com.   We always publish owner names and unit numbers but phone numbers and email addresses are optional, tho handy for staying in touch with friends and neighbors here at Tiara.

If you're new to Tiara and need to get the current 2020 Tiara Directory please ask David for a copy or send an email to jerib99@gmail.com.

We are targeting to have the 2021 Directory available in mid-January 2021.

This is the year of unusual findings on the Beach.    Today's find is a red navigation marker, probably a channel buoy, on the beach at Atrium I.   It doesn't look very red because the sun glare this morning washed out all color, but it is red.   It must be 6-7' tall.

Florida Department of Health reports there have been 95 positive cases of Covid-19 reported in our zipcode of 34949 since testing began.     That's not a huge number but it is significant as it continues to climb.    At least one of the condominium communities on North Hutchinson Island has reported it currently has 3 cases.   The need for social distancing and masks is continues.

Note that zipcode 34949 includes North Hutchinson Island north to the Indian River county line and south to about the nuclear power plant on South Hutchinson Island.

Robert "Dr. Bob" Foley, Age 92 of Minnetonka, peacefully earned his second set of wings surrounded by his loving family October 27, 2020. Preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years Mary "Mere-Mere".  Survived by son Mike (Leslie), Kathy (Greg Pierce) Foley, Anne (Steve) Wagner, Patty (Frank) McKinney. Grandchildren Rachel, Justin, Patrick, Stephen, Anne, Madeleine, Michael, Emmett, Gracie, Zoë and 4 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and the many friends he held dear.  [Bob and Mary Foley resided at Tiara in unit 1502 in the North tower.]

Bob grew up in St. Cloud MN during the depression. As his father struggled to care for 5 young children alone, Bob spent his early years at the children's orphanage. He credited his deep faith to the wonderful care he received from the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN. At the age of 8, he and his siblings were reunited with their father. As he grew, Bob found fulfilling work as a farm hand making pickles and packing cans of peas. He also spent two summers on the ore boats as a longshoreman in Duluth MN. He met Mary Leopard while attending St. Cloud Tech High School. After graduation, they went their separate ways as he joined the Naval Aviation Midshipman program in 1946. He earned his first set of wings as a navy pilot at the age of 21. He was a member of the Blue Devil squadron. He flew the F4U Corsair airplanes (the bent-wing Bird) off the Roosevelt aircraft carrier during the Korean War. Bob's naval experience was truly unique in that he also trained and flew the F9F Panther, which was one of the first carrier-borne jet-powered fighters in the Navy.

Upon completing the naval program, Bob resumed his studies and graduated from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN. He loved science and his true calling was to study medicine. He attended the U of MN Medical School with help from the GI Bill. During this time, he reunited with Mary and they married in 1955. Bob earned his MD and practiced Radiology for 33 years at St. Mary's Hospital, now known as M Health Fairview in Minneapolis.

While practicing, he and Mary started Imaging Associates, which provided the first mobile CAT scanning services to rural hospitals in southern MN. They fondly called it the "traveling medicine show." He retired in 1993 and remained very active, golfing, traveling, skiing, going "up north" to the family cabin that he built, and south to their place on the ocean. He was an avid reader and had a true appreciation for the written word. Bob appeared average in stature and yet he was a gentle giant, known for his grace, kindness, and generosity. He was loved by all. A private family burial was celebrated at St. John's Abbey Cemetery, Collegeville MN. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Bob Foley was extremely proud of his Irish heritage and it was weaved into his everyday life. We toast Bob as he is now reunited with his beloved Mary. Sláinte! Washburn-McReavy.com Eden Prairie Chapel 952-975-0400

Published on November 1, 2020, in the StarTribune of Minneapolis, MN

Add these Tiara Board meeting to your calendar.   Although they are Board meetings, all owners are invited to attend.

November 11th 10 AM - Board meeting to approve the proposed 2021 budget and the new landscaping company.

November 19th 10 AM - Board meeting to discuss elevator modernization and approve the assessments.

December 2nd, 10 AM - ANNUAL OWNERS MEETING

Tiara has weathered this late storm ETA with minimal impact as far as I can see.   On the upper floors Sunday night gusts were measured as high as 52 mph and rain was heavy at times.    Many residents had closed shutters in anticipation of the storm.    Palm fronds were blown off and pool furniture took a dip in the pool.   But otherwise life remains good here at Tiara.

Please be reminded that on Wednesday, November 11 at 10:00 AM at the South Tower Club room, there will be a Board of Directors meeting with the purpose of approving the 2021 proposed budget and the new landscaping company.

This meeting will be in person and thru Zoom for those owners unable to attend.

 To join the meeting thru Zoom; https://zoom.us/join

 Meeting ID is:     869 247 9105

Pass code is:       625257         

 If you are calling in on your phone the call-in number is 312-626-6799

Novello E. Ruggiero, M.D.

September 23, 1924 - October 30, 2020

WATERTOWN - Novello “Noel” E. Ruggiero, M.D., of Fort Pierce, Fla., and Watertown, died peacefully on Friday, Oct. 30th at age 96 surrounded by family who cherished him.  He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Betty J. (Phillips) Ruggiero.     Noel and Betty resided at Tiara Towers 1301 N for many years and were good friends to many at Tiara.

Novello was born on Sept. 23rd, 1924 in Waterbury, CT.  He was a son of M. Alphonso Ruggiero and Giovannina (Iorio) Ruggiero.  He grew up in Waterbury, graduating from Crosby High School.  He graduated from the University of Vermont and its Medical School, receiving his medical degree in 1952.  Dr. Ruggiero completed his residency in general surgery at Waterbury Hospital.  He practiced medicine for years in the Waterbury area before entering a residency program in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Duke University.  Upon completion of his residency, he practiced in Washington, D.C., southeastern Massachusetts, and the Waterbury/Torrington area until his retirement.

Dr. Ruggiero served in the U.S. Air Force in France and Germany from 1955 – 1957.  At home, he served in many capacities in Watertown government, including town council member, acting Town Manager, and Director of Hospice.  He was most proud of his role as Director of Hospice in Watertown.

Dr. Ruggiero was devoted to family and leaves behind his three daughters:  Noël (Ruggiero) Breg and her husband, Bill, of Watertown; Alisa Ruggiero and her husband, Tony Rinaldo of Acton, MA; Kristin Ruggiero and her husband, Walter Dolan of Sandy Hook.  He also leaves five grandchildren and one great-grandchild:  Jonathan Morgan and wife and son, Meghan and Mason; Nicholas Morgan; Christina Morgan; Nathaniel Breg; and Alexander Breg.  He leaves a sister, Anita Miller, of Waterbury, and sisters-in-law, Barbara (Joan) Ruggiero, of Woodbridge, Rita Ruggiero of Naugatuck, Virginia Rogers of New Jersey, Judy Councilman (husband, Harold) of North Carolina and Nancy Fields (husband, Phillip) of Virginia, as well as many nieces and nephews.  He was pre-deceased by his siblings, Geraldine, Joseph, John, Louis, and Gloria Ruggiero.

Due to Covid, a memorial service will be held at a later date still to be determined.

That small fishing boat that capsized off the Tiara beach is gone.    After bobbing at anchor offshore and overturned for several days the boat wound up on the beach in front of the South Tower, helped along by winds, waves and a few interested humans.    Beachgoers of all ages found it curious and stopped to examine the boat, tried to turn it upright, and even posed for pictures atop it.     But after a week or two the heavy surf and winds battered the boat and it began to disintegrate.   The boat actually rode the surf a bit up the beach to the North Tower before being carried back south.    Finally the boat was torn apart by the waves and gradually drifted away.    A few Tiara owners were observed to remove some of the boat debris left on our beach, helping to keep Tiara's beaches clean.

Although it offered some interesting beach watching, it was sad to watch the break-up of someone's boat.