Susan Curry
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Suzy
Castaways Nickname: Chiquita
Tours Completed: 2015-East of Midnight Tour; 2016-Proof of Life Tour; 2017-Just Breathe Tour; 2018-Under the Bridge Tour; 2019-No Surrender Tour; 2020-20/20 Perfect Vision Tour; 2021-BlackJack Tour; 2022-Carry On Tour; 2023-Ridiculous Stunt Tour; 2024-Here Comes the Sun Tour
Team Role/Function: Someone has to bring up the rear and I volunteered.
How did you become a Castaway? I met the guys at Sombrero Beach in Marathon when I met them there with banana pudding from my restaurant, thus my Castaway name "Chiquita" I told them when I retired in 2014 that I wanted to kayak with them the next year. I never kayaked before and got a kayak for my 60th birthday. I trained hard but had no idea how tough this trio actually is. I kayaked 82 miles with them that year. After doing the 162 miles in 2017 I decided to just kayak the keys, 110 miles. Last year was another change, being 70 years old the mind says let's do it while the body says are you kidding me. I did a "golden oldies challenge" which I plan to do again this year. I plan to walk the length of the keys, bike it also and then kayak it hopefully it can be done in 6 months.
Why are you a Castaway? I will be a 14-year breast cancer survivor and that is how I met the Castaways. Cancer sucks and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
Outside a kayak/bicycle, what is your "essential" gear? Radio, good paddle and a body that doesn't complain when you're on the water all day.
Conch Republic Navy Rank? Haven’t had the honor of being inducted yet.
Favorite Castaways moment: sunrises in the morning.
Favorite Castaways quote: "Das Horn',
My Family: Husband Richard, we are old hippies who lived together for 5 years and then married in 1981. I'm lucky to have a man for 48 years who puts up with my stubbornness.
Where are you from? Originally Maryland but moved to the Florida Keys in 1972 at the age of 17 and never left.
Where did you go to high school? Annapolis, Maryland.
Where did you go to college/grad school? Key West 1972-1974.
Where do you work? Retired waitress, bartender and restaurant owner.
Favorite music/artists: Bob Seeger, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles and of course Jimmy Buffet.
Favorite movies/genre: Rom-Com.
Favorite books: Books with happy endings.
Personal Fun Fact: I love to garden and play in the dirt, I was a very messy child.
The mission of the Castaways mission is to help fund cancer research and honor those who've fought the fight. How do you (plan to) do that? I plan to kayak in honor of my big brother Joe who is currently battling lung cancer.