By Capt. Jim Kalvin:
Naples’ waterfront lost a Giant last month when Thomas Edward “Tommy” Turner, Sr. passed away on May 3rd. And though many on the waterfront today never knew him, his legacy will forever be a part of the history of our local Marine Industry.
A member of the Naples High School Class of 1953, Tommy went to serve in the U.S. Army right after graduation. He returned home after his honorable discharge to raise his family with his wife, Lula, and fish commercially with his father and brothers. He later ran Turner Marine (now Naples Boat Club) with his brother Duke, which was the largest boatyard south of Tampa.
Tommy taught me how to work on the big boats – how to troubleshoot and repair propellers, shafts, rudders, and through-hull fittings on any manner of craft – commercial or pleasure. I was not the first one he taught, nor was I the last.
I will always remember him in his classic pose wearing his Turner Marine ball cap standing before the next “impossible” job – holding a pipe wrench as big as a hockey stick, smiling his signature smile, and asking you to come “see how it’s done”.
He was the strongest man I ever knew, and he could work circles around men half his age – smiling all the time. He openly professed his love for the Lord, and he always went out of his way to help children.
As Service Manager for the Family Marina, I remember one time – had to be January or February cause it was near dark – and I was closing up the office. I heard noises coming from the paint shed, and I thought I should investigate. There was Tommy, cutting open old spray cans, getting the marbles out of the spent canisters.
When he saw me watching him, he just smiled real big and held out his hand to show me his bounty. “The grandkids love marbles!” he said. “course, I clean ‘em up real good.”
Tommy was a master ship’s carpenter and taught me everything I know about maritime wood-working. From Cliff Barksdale’s old Chinese Junk, “Gwai-Lo” to the “Kokomis” (Keewaydin Island’s old shuttle boat), and other wooden craft around Naples, Tommy was the tradesman of choice to perform the annual work on those old boats.
He never uttered a harsh word, and never had ill will for anyone. He was a man’s man who leads by example and believed in the old ways. And though his memorial service will be held after the submission deadline of this article, I can assure you that the respects paid by the Naples waterfront community was awesome!
Captain Jim Kalvin is a Florida native, a USCG licensed 100-ton master, and a local marine contractor. He can be reached at 239-280-6054, or contacted via james.kalvin61@gmail.com.