REMEMBERING LAURIE: Former BOSS coordinator memorialized Sunday
A former Bay Oaks Social Seniors coordinator that passed on Nov. 20, 2014 and was deeply loved among past and present active seniors on Fort Myers Beach will have a memorial in her honor this Sunday.
Laurie Satalino, who was born in Freeport, New York, on Jan. 16, 1962 and spent her childhood on Long Island before moving to the Fort Myers area in the 1990s, will be commemorated at a ceremony at Chapel by the Sea on Sunday, Jan. 11. The Celebration of Life will take place at 2 p.m., and all who knew her are invited to attend.
Satalino began working with the Bay Oaks Social Seniors at Bay Oaks Recreational Campus as a part-time co-ordinator for Lee County Parks & Recreation, before the town took over the recreational center and property. She was said to have found her true calling working and interacting with the island seniors and, when BOSS increased from a membership of 58 to 250, Laurie’s position became full-time.
From 2003 to 2009, Satalino scheduled many varied activities for BOSS members to keep them physically, mentally and socially active. She was known to go the extra mile to help seniors and was loved for it.
“Laurie was a unique person who gave her love to everyone in a way that made each individual sure he or she was the best-loved of all,” said Becky Bodnar.
“Laurie loved doing Thanksgiving dinner for her seniors. The last year we helped her prepare dinner, we had 85 guests. And, we had take-home plates for everyone. Laurie loved feeding her flock,” added Bob and Julie Jakubiec.
“Laurie was a very special person. She touched many lives. All who knew her loved her as she was kind, thoughtful and generous. May she Rest In Peace. You will be missed by all,” said Natalie Manning.
When the Town of Fort Myers Beach took over Bay Oaks, Satalino remained with Lee County Parks & Recreation staff and moved to Wa-Ke Hatchee Rec Center to begin work there.
Around this time, Laurie’s physical problems grew progressively serious and, in November 2014, she lost her long battle with cancer.
Satalino was known to love animals with a passion that was all-inclusive. Due to that emotion, friends and family are asking well-wishers to send donations to no-kill animal shelters, like ARC (Animal Refuge Center) in North Fort Myers, or any animal shelter of your choice, in lieu of flowers.
-information provided by Becky Bodnar