Marianne Moore-Palumbo & Tom Palumbo
Member Spotlight
MARIANNE PALUMBO
Marianne Moore-Palumbo was an army brat whose father was
a career officer and mother an internee in the Philippines in
World War II. As such, she lived on bases around the world,
the Philippines, Japan, and Germany, learning their cultures
and traditions, and in many states in the USA, developing an
abiding love of our country. She remembers as a child her
father flying her by helicopter over her school, and planting
the seed that became her career.
She graduated from Elon University in North
Carolina with a double major of politics and social science,
and became a flight attendant for Piedmont Airlines. There,
she wore several hats--doctor, fireman, and comforter of
passengers and crew--performing medical procedures with
help from doctors, nurses, and paramedics. In one case, she
saved the life of a child with spinal meningitis. During her 35year career, she met many celebrities, including over 30
college and four professional football teams. One celebrity
she flew with was Sully Sullenberger, the pilot who landed
his plane safely in the Hudson River.
As a member of the flight attendants’ union, she held
several offices and became their lobbyist in Washington, D.C.
Over six years, she visited every member of congress at least
twice, to effect the smoking ban, and work on other issues. In
1998, Marianne earned the union’s highest honor, the Edith
Lauderbach award, and one year later, the Academy of
Florida Trial Lawyers award for her part in the constitutional
challenge to the “Boeing Amendment,” which would have
negated liability for an aircraft over 20 years old involved in a
crash. Also, she was responsible for the establishment of a
Flight Attendant Safety Professional Day, July 19.
After her beloved father died, Marianne left the sky.
Last year, she married Tom Palumbo on her father’s birthday,
February 14. She thinks her dad, a life-long Rotarian, must
have been looking down with a grin when she joined Rotary
last year, and became a Paul Harris Fellow. She says, “Your
goals are my goals and all your members have fascinated me
with their diversity” and drive.
Marianne enjoys writing, and has published articles
in national publications and Florida Today. She is already
involved in club activities including our Moon River fund
raiser. Perceiving loopholes in big assisted-living facilities,
she and Tom have started making a difference in small
facilities, where patients receive care, love, and respect.
[Jan 2010 BH]
Member Spotlight
TOM PALUMBO
Tom is half of one of our club’s three happily married
couples. He was born and raised in New York City. He graduated
from its Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna
cum laude, with great honor. Following graduation, he became
licensed as an insurance broker and opened an insurance agency for
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Next, in 1963 he opened his
first real estate office for what became Century 21 Real Estate
Corporation LLC (limited liability corporation), with six offices in
New York. He moved to Florida in 1979, and became a licensed real
estate broker. From 1977 to 1992 he operated five additional Century
21 offices in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Tom moved to Tortoise
Island in 1994, and formed Tortoise Island Realty. Today, he is
chairman and CEO of Islands International Realty.
Tom joined Rotary in Mamaroneck, New York, in 1968. He
transferred to the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale Beach, and shortly
after became its president. Finally, with his move to Tortoise Island,
he joined the Rotary Club of Indialantic, becoming our president for
1996-97. Tom is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Moreover, he has
created fellowships for three other members of his family.
As in previous years, Tom has donated time to the club’s
Moon River, Music and Magic annual fund-raiser to be held in
March. Lucky winners of the live auction will spend time at Tom’s
island, Fanny Key, and no doubt learn why his heart leads him to the
Florida Keys.
Tom enjoys boating, tennis, and traveling to new and
exciting destinations. Also, he is trying his best to “conquer the game
of golf.” He is very proud of his four sons, two grandchildren, his
Old English sheepdog, and his adopted Persian cat. Last year, on
Valentine’s Day, Tom was married to the love of his life, Marianne.
He reports that he has never been happier!
Tom and Marianne have turned their business acumen to
small assisted living facilities, having been dismayed at the treatment
afforded his mother-in-law in a large facility. They want their new
homes to have all the love, caring, and professionalism their parents
would want. [Jan 2010 BH]