For Marathon real estate agent Teri Hiller, it doesn’t matter if a day of cracking stone crab claws at the Marathon Seafood Festival leaves her exhausted, with blistered hands. For her, the camaraderie in a tent full of people serving their community is a privilege – one that extends to many other aspects of her life.
A Keys resident since 1989, Teri met her husband Don, a community servant in his own right with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, at the Side Door dance club (at the site of the current Marathon Community Theatre). Since then, she’s staked her claim as a three-time Best Realtor in the Best of Marathon Awards, Marathon Chamber of Commerce board chair, and one of several crucial donors to the Coldwell Banker Schmitt Charitable Foundation.
But those who know Hiller say that the little acts that may not show up on a resume are just as much a part of who she is as the bigger accolades.
“In November, I had some dear friends who lost their home in Israel because of the Hamas attacks, and I got them to come stay here for a week,” said Marathon Chamber CEO Daniel Samess. “Teri found out about it, and asked what she could do to help. I told her I was going to go to Winn-Dixie and try to stock their fridge, and she goes, ‘I got it. Don’t worry about it.’ The next day, she hands me a couple hundred dollars worth of gift cards. That’s just a little example of Teri doing something without fanfare that nobody really knows about.”
What volunteer opportunity changed your worldview? With the Charitable Foundation, we’re so used to helping people. But after Hurricane Irma, we had 4 feet of water in our house. We were sitting out in our driveway with furniture and didn’t know what we were going to do. All of a sudden, eight people showed up from nowhere and said, “your local Association of Realtors said you guys got hit really hard, so we’re here to help.” I just started bawling – I wasn’t used to being on the other end of things. The community came together like no other.
Last night on Earth: who are you spending it with and what are you doing? I would go to Pigeon Key with all of my best friends and family. We’d hang out, cook, swim and do some floating. Maybe some fireworks – everything’s more fun with fireworks.
What is your favorite quality about yourself? I’d like to think I’m kind, loyal and reliable.
What 3 words do you hope others use to describe you? Just two: brutally honest.
Looking back on your life, who or what makes you instantly light up? Benny-Boo! (My son, Ben. Sorry, Don.) He’s in college and nothing makes me happier than when he’s able to come home for a weekend.
Do you talk to yourself? Do you answer back? 100%, and I’ve solved all the world’s problems in 30 seconds. How else do I get through the day?
What’s item #1 on your bucket list? Don and I have talked about going to Italy – I think that would be kind of cool.
If you could have one wish come true, what would it be? My thoughts always go to Ben. When you become a parent, everything kind of reverts to that. I want him to be happy, healthy and stupidly successful.
What is your least favorite smell? What’s your favorite? My least favorite is a broken bait freezer. Don and I have had to clean out several for friends – twice for the same ones. Those must be REALLY good friends. But my favorite is when he starts cooking in the outdoor kitchen.
What’s your hype song? Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough.” We play it all the time on the boats after the Fourth of July while we’re waiting for all the traffic to go. Next thing you know, Michael Jackson’s on and we’re all dancing.
Do you believe in ghosts? What about life after death? Ghosts, 100% yes. I think I’ve been haunted before, and I’ve been in a haunted place. Life after death, also yes. I’m going to be a queen.
Which celebrity would you choose as a mentor? My hall pass is Kevin Costner, because I’m obsessed with him, but I’m not sure if I need him to “mentor” me.
What keeps you up at night? Nothing, unless it’s Don’s work phone ringing at all hours. If I wake up thinking about something, I tell myself, “OK, when I wake up in the morning, I’m going to think more about that. Let’s worry about it at 7:30.” And then I go back to sleep.
