No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to present our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.
Our neighbor of the week is Tory Russell, who is originally from Tallahassee. She went to college at Ole Miss and attended graduate school at Mississippi State before finding her way to Marathon. She owns T&T Pool Service and loves building something of her own in Marathon. You might see her driving around town in her pink pool truck. Outside of work, she enjoys looking for shells, walking her dogs on the beach, and needlepointing.
TORY RUSSELL
T&T Pool Service
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? I’ve lived in the Keys full-time for almost three years now. My parents originally bought a house down here in 2020, and I followed them after finishing my MBA. I was drawn to the lifestyle, the water and the sense of community.
What’s a local business you couldn’t live without? The Grassy Key Market and Coco’s General Store are my go-to lunch spots. I love supporting local businesses and these are the places I always end up at when I want good food and a friendly atmosphere.
What is your greatest fear? Heights! You will never see me jumping out of a plane in Key West.
Which living people do you most admire? I admire all the small business owners throughout the Keys. Watching people work hard, stay consistent and lead by example is inspiring.
What is your favorite book, movie, or TV show right now? My favorite book is “A Land Remembered.” It’s such a great look at Florida’s history. I recently saw they’re working on turning it into a TV show, which I’m really excited to see.
What is your greatest extravagance? Living near the water. There’s nothing better.
What’s a talent you wish you had? I wish I could sing in tune.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? I would like to overthink less. I’d love to just trust myself and go with the flow more often.
What is your most marked characteristic? Reliability. If I say I’m going to do something, people know I’ll follow through, whether it’s at work or in my personal life.
Who is one of your real-life heroes? My mom. She’s always been my example.
If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? I would be one of my dachshunds because they live a comfortable and cozy life.
What’s something you’re really proud of? Starting my own business with guidance from my father. Owning T&T Pool Service has been challenging, rewarding and exciting. It’s amazing to see something I created grow in the community.
What is your most treasured possession? Probably my collection of shells.
What’s a simple pleasure that brings you joy? Feeding the fish that live below the dock.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? “Do good work and let it speak for itself.”
What’s a secret about you that people might be surprised to learn? I rarely ever go swimming in pools. Even though I work with them every day, I usually prefer staying inside after a long, hot day.
What was in the last Amazon package that arrived? Supplies for my new needlepoint project. It’s something I’ve recently started and really enjoy.
What’s one of your all-time favorite movie quotes? “Just keep swimming.” “Finding Nemo” was actually the first movie I ever watched in a theater, so it has a special place for me.
Know someone who would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
