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 spotlight our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.
Our neighbor of the week is Cathy Brewer, a dog lover and Key Largo resident. She is an executive board member with MarrVelous Pet Rescues, a foster-based animal rescue and adoption not-for-profit organization serving the Florida Keys, as well as the main animal transporter and frequent foster mom to their rescues.
She is a member of Key Largo Chamber and Upper Keys Business & Professional Organization. She is married to Fred and has one son, Christopher, who lives in Tennessee. He has a daughter named Navy James and a son on the way who will be named Atlas.
How long have you lived in the Keys? My first visit to the Keys was in 1979, but we bought our first property in 2011. In 2015, we moved permanently from Broward County into our current home that we had built in Twin Lakes.
What drew you to the Keys? My first husband spent a lot of time in the Keys in the 1960s and ’70s. He introduced me and I loved the climate that was not a Chicago winter, where I grew up.
What was your occupation before you retired? I followed in my father’s footsteps into the direct mail business, which used to be a big deal. I worked with him and later opened my own agency. While I later sold it, I stayed in sales until the pandemic when I retired.
How did you become involved with MarrVelous? Fred and I attended a “Yappy Hour” when we first moved permanently. I think it was at Key Largo Fisheries. We brought our two labs. After that I started volunteering.
Weirdest experience you’ve had in the Keys? Finding a real square grouper one day while we were out fishing. We called the Coast Guard.
If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be? My mom. I lost her when I was 35 and she was only 61.
If you had a superpower, what would it be? The ability to find every dog a good home.
Favorite Food? Chicago pizza, thin crust from Fox’s Restaurant & Pub on the South Side.
What are your hobbies? Dog. Dog transporting. Offshore fishing.
Is there a skill/talent you want to master? Being fluent in Spanish. My business was located in Hialeah. I have a decent understanding of hearing it but I am not a fluent speaker.
What are you most proud of as you look back on your life this far? My son.
Do you have any regrets? Not really. Of course, I’ve made a lot of mistakes but I learn from them and put them behind me.
What is the biggest daily challenge you face? Trying to find the time to do everything I agreed to do. I overcommit.
