PalmCoastObserver.com
YOUR TOWN UNDERWATER FILMMAKER AT WHITNEY The Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series hosted by the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience continues Thursday, March 10, at 7 p.m. with the program titled “What’s Underwater St. Augustine.” Joe Kistel, underwater cinematographer and TISIRI Founder, will be the speaker. This free lecture will be presented in person at the UF Whitney Laboratory Lohman Auditorium, 9505 Ocean Shore Boulevard, in St. Augustine, just south of the St. Johns-Flagler county line. Those interested also have the option of registering to watch via Zoom live the night of the lecture. Register to watch online: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/ register/ Send Your Town submissions to editor@palmcoastobserver.com.
PALM COAST OBSERVER
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Q + A GEORGE REGO, MARTIAL
The Family History Center, located at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 402 N. Palmetto St., Bunnell, is open for walk-ins 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays, where consultants are available to help with research questions. The FHC also offers free access to the following online resources: 19th Century British Library of 48 Newspapers; Alexander Street, including access to The American Civil War Research Database and Women and Social Movements in the United States between 1600 and 2000; American Ancestors; Ancestry Institution; ArkivDigital; FamNet; Findmypast; Fold3: military records, stories, documents, photos; Geneanet; MyHeritge Library Edition; Newspapers.com: 12,100 newspapers from 1700s to 2000s; Paper Trail: 19th century westward American migration documents; and Puzzilla. For more information, contact Philip White at stakefhc@ gmail.com or 210-896-1591.
‘The Founding of Jujutsu and Judo In America’
ARTIST AND AUTHOR
What inspired you to write the book?
SUPERIOR SANTOS
What is your book about, and what is your target audience?
BLACK HISTORY ON DISPLAY IN BUNNELL To celebrate Black History Month on Feb. 28, 65 students in Nina DeBodisco’s classes at Bunnell Elementary School selected a figure from history who helped bring positive change to the world. “The hallway was abuzz with students from fourth through fifth grade touring the exhibit,” DeBodisco wrote in a text message to the Palm Coast Observer.
TRIBUTES Rita Coppola
Meiah Pinkins as Simone Biles. More photos at www.palmcoastobserver.com.
The muted level of knowledge that most martial arts students, including senior level practitioners, have about the foundations of the very martial art they practice is disappointing. This unique history is a beautiful and intriguing one, even for the non-martial artist. It is worth preserving and understanding. Without a basic understanding of the foundations of the art, myths develop and become crystalized as “fact” in the pop culture of the art. I wanted to write a book that would both be enjoyable and informative on the development of the martial arts — jujitsu and judo specifically — in the United States of America.
Aubrey Gartner as Mae Jemison
The Grand Reserve Ladies Golf Association recently held a Cancer Awareness Tournament at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Bunnell. A total of $828 was collected, and the proceeds were presented to Advent Health Palm Coast Foundation. Pictured with foundation director John Subers and Dr. Nevin Hanna are golf association leaders and volunteers: Joanne, Joan Gray, Elaine, Linda Huauanio, Trish Vevera, Judy Barefoot. Not pictured: Joy Epperson and Joan Bower.
Nailee Santos, an 8-year-old music student at Planet e Studios and Piano by Amy, received a superior rating in both singing and piano on Feb. 19, at the Florida Federation of Music Clubs festival, at Trinity Presbyterian Church. A total of 110 students participated. Those who receive a superior can go on to compete at the state level in May, at the University of South Florida.
As the title suggests, the book centers on the roots of how the Japanese art of selfdefense was brought from Japan to the United States. It begins with the first known encounter between an American and the art of jujutsu (sometimes spelled jujitsu or jiu-jitsu). We move forward in time to discuss notable events and personalities, including little known facts, such as President Theodore Roosevelt studying jujitsu/ judo and having a dojo in the White House. Letters regarding his practice of martial arts, from the presidential archives and other sources, are included. We highlight the role of World War II and how American servicemen coming back from Japan played a massive role in the
Carey Rocco 1953-2022 Carey Rocco, 68, of Palm Coast, FL, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 14, 2022, at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach surrounded by his daughters and friends.
Rita had a long career as an executive secretary to the CEO of Pitney Bowes in Stamford, Connecticut. After retiring together, Rita and Joe owned and operated a marina together on Lake St. Catherine in Vermont. Rita’s final years were spent enjoying the Florida lifestyle in Palm Coast. Rita loved traveling, hosting friends and family, and all sorts of sports, especially Sunday football! She had a generous heart, a beautiful spirit, and a deep faith. Rita always felt she was blessed with amazing family and friends and an incredible life.
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2022
FAMILY HISTORY CENTER OFFERS FREE ACCESS
GRAND RESERVE GOLF LADIES DONATE TO CANCER CAUSE
Margherita “Rita” M. Coppola, 89, of Palm Coast, Florida passed away peacefully on Feb 8th with her loving husband of 63 years, Joseph Coppola, by her side.
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She is survived by her husband, Joseph, as well as many nieces and nephews who loved her immensely and will miss her dearly. A Memorial Mass for Rita will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in St. Augustine, Florida at 11:00 AM on Monday, March 7th. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Philip Church in Norwalk, Connecticut at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 19th. In lieu of flowers, Rita’s family encourages you to donate to the charity of your choice in her honor. Arrangements are being handled by Heritage Funeral and Cremation in Bunnell, FL. www.HeritageFlagler.com MEMORIAL MASS: Monday, March 7, 11AM Corpus Christi Catholic Church St. Augustine, Florida 377291-1
Born in Hartford, CT on August 29, 1953, he was the son of the late Nunzio and Elsa (Ostrem) Rocco and predeceased by his sister Mary Rocco-Lewandowski. He attended Bulkeley High School in Hartford, CT then served in the U.S. Marine Corps. After the Marines, he went back to school to earn his plumbing license. He spent most of his professional career at Hartford Hospital, where he met many of his lifelong friends. Before retiring, he earned licenses in five disciplines within the trades and worked for himself as a certified plumbing contractor. He was a man of many professional and creative talents. He loved being able to help his family and friends with projects and renovations in their homes. He lived in Newington, CT for more than 20 years then retired to Palm Coast, FL. His dream was to live by the beach and enjoy his retirement. He loved boating, fishing, and spending time with his friends and family. Carey is survived by his daughters, Melissa (Rocco) D’Angelo and husband Matthew D’Angelo of North Granby, CT and their 3
George Rego is chief instructor at Jukido Academy, in Palm Coast.
art having a permanent place in the fabric of America. The book also includes five extended interviews with American jujitsu and judo pioneers. The target audience is for anyone interested in sports history or those intrigued by unique stories of American cultural development. From a local perspective, given that I’m a long time Palm Coast resident and run the longest running school of self-defense in Flagler County — the Jukido Academy — I would, of course, love the support of Flagler for one of its own! What is joyful about writing, and what is painful or frustrating?
I’m a history nerd. I’m also a life long martial arts nerd. Putting both of those interests together made for an enjoyable experience. The painstaking research required to provide evidence behind historical claims can be grueling. The most challenging piece as a writer is to make “executive decisions” about what elements of the history are essential and which aren’t. The historian in me always wants more. However, the practical side of me has to decide how much or how little to address certain topics. Inevitably, you could always say a bit more about a particular person, topic, or event but you have to know when to “move on” to keep the flow of the story going. What other authors have influenced you?
Donn Draeger was among the very first “real” scholars of martial arts literature. While his work isn’t always easy to read, it is highly informative and set the standard for all future martial arts scholarship written in the English language. There are others as well: John Stevens and Ryan Holiday.
He loved boating, fishing, and spending time with his friends and family. children, Dana Rocco of West Hartford, CT and her 2 children; his brother, Anthony Rocco of Englewood, FL; sisters, JoAnne Rocco of Hartford, CT, Leigh (Rocco) Hohman and husband Randy Hohman of Hebron, CT, Leslie Rocco of Naples, FL, and his brother-in-law Rich Lewandowski of Indianapolis, IN. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jayden, Antonio and Melina D’Angelo, Colton Russo and Dominic Dubois; nieces, Tarabeth Rocco, Brandi Piacente and Kirsten Hohman and nephew, Keith Piacente. The family will receive relatives and friends from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. on Saturday (March 5th) at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277
Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield, CT. Private burial with military honors will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Glastonbury. To leave a message for the family, please visit www. desopofuneralchapel.com.
SERVICE: Saturday, March 5, 8:30AM D’Esopo Funeral Chapel 277 Folly Brook Blvd. Wethersfield, CT
What is the best advice you’ve ever received about writing?
Writing is thinking. To write well is to think clearly. That’s why it’s so hard. While that isn’t exactly advice, that notion has helped me both as the author of this book, with articles I’ve written in the past, and my own private writing habits. When I need to “work something out,” writing, even if privately, is massively beneficial to organizing one’s own thinking. Like authentic martial arts itself, it affords you the opportunity to discipline your mind. How can readers get a copy?
You can search my name or you can search the title of the book, “The Founding of Jujutsu & Judo In America,” on Amazon. Soon we’ll also have copies at my dojo, the Jukido Academy of SelfDefense, here in Palm Coast. As of this moment, it is number 1 in new releases under the categories of Martial Arts and also in Sports History. 377080-1
