Elizabeth (Betsy) M Perdichizzi Author, Publisher and Owner
Betsy has a passion to capture and share the history of this region with others. She has a keen sense that time is running out as those who know the island lore die off or drift away.
As a founding member of the Marco Island Historical Society in 1994, she began researching and interviewing descendants of pioneers and writing a history column in one of the local papers.
In a novel twist she condensed her research of Tommie Camila Barfield into a play script and began performing original one-woman plays to tell the stories of her heroines. “Tea with Tommie Barfield” was a great success Her interpretation of Mrs. Potter Palmer, Belle of Sarasota soon followed. In 2004, her multi-media play, “Florida Land Barons of the Golden Age,” inspired by Charles Harner’s book “Florida Promoters, Men Who Made it Big.” was presented before audiences in Collier and Lee Counties/ It was updated and adapted for the Rose History Auditorium in 2011. Betsy’s performances inspired the creation of the Marco Island Historical Re-enactors to do historical interpretations of island pioneers and sw Florida personalities, bringing past history to life.
Caxambas Publishing Company was established in 1999 to publish the books that followed. She blends poignant human detail with historical fact in an easily readable way.
Betsy’s bio
She and her husband Bill moved to Marco Island in 1989 with their son William. To their delight, daughter Laurie and grand daughter Leah moved to the island in 2009. Together they have five children and four grand children.
Perdichizzi has served on the Archaeological Preservation Board of Collier County from 2006 to the present, and served two terms as Chairman in 2007 – 2009.
While serving on the MIHS Board of Directors she served as Co Chairman of the capital campaign with her husband Bill to raise $4.5 million to build the Marco Island Historical Museum.
In her community involvement as past president of Newcomers Club of Marco, Southwest Florida Archaeology Society, and the MIHS, she received various community leadership awards between 1999 and 2009.
Education: Bachelors of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia in 1974. Masters courses from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 1977-78. She taught private school in Falls Church, VA and public elementary school in Dales City, VA prior to moving to Marco Island.
Writing Books
“The Phony Hermit” by Al Seely was edited and published in 2010, nineteen years after Seely’s death. This is Seely’s story of surviving 10 years in the Ten Thousand Islands wilderness. He tells why a man with an education in fine arts-totally ignorant in the ways of the wilderness, without the least understanding of channel markers, reading a nautical chart or knowledge of boats or motors-made the decision to leave society and become a hermit.
She wrote and published “Island Voices, They Came to Marco Island” in 2006, a compilation of tales from pioneer families of the region,
She, co-authored with the late Kappy Kirk of Goodland, “A Girl Called Tommie, Queen of Marco Island,” published in 1999, a biography of Tommie Barfield.
Writing Newspaper Columns
A contributing columnist for the Marco Island Sun Times, Betsy used her column “Days Gone By,” (2003 – present) to promote education, appreciation, and understanding of the unique history and heritage of the Marco Island Community, and its place in Southwest Florida, Collier County, history. Her writings for the Marco Sun Times earned her the Florida Golden Quill Award in 2004, a journalism award given by the Florida Historical Society for excellence in writing about Florida’s history
Marco Island Eagle, (2007 to 2010) writing historical news, museum updates with Marion Nicolay for “History In Motion” column.
Volunteerism
Historical and Archaeological Preservation Board (HAPB) of Collier County, member 2006 to present, serving as Chair 2008-09,
Marco Island Historical Society (MIHS), 1994 to present. Founding member, she served as Director and co editor of Newsletter until February 2011, while serving two terms as past President, It is generally agreed that she was the catalyst in the acquisition of the historic figurine, the Key Marco Cat, from the Smithsonian Institution in 1995 for its 100th anniversary, and again in 2000 for the millennium celebration.
Marco Isaland Historical Society capital campaign Co-chair, she led a community drive to raise $4.5 million to build the Marco Island Historical Museum Complex. In this capacity she served as Grant Project Director for the 2009 grants Florida Humanities Council Grant and the Florida Division Cultural Affairs Grant
Southwest Florida Archaeology Society (2005 – present) serving two-terms as the first woman president, she is currently on the Board of Directors
Newcomers Club of Marco, Past President,
Marco Island Chamber of Commerce, 22-year volunteer,
Awards
2009 “Marco Island Citizen of the Year” award presented by the Naples Daily News.
2009 “Spirit of Marco Island Island” awarded to Betsy and Bill Perdichizzi by the Rotary Clubs of America “Who exemplifies the Spirit of Community Involvement.”
2004, The Golden Quill, a journalism award given by the Florida Historical Society for excellence in writing about Florida’s history.
2003 Class of 1953 Award for the 50th Reunion Book.
2000 Citizens Community Bank Community Leadership Award,
1999, YMCA Community Leader Award