Peggy & Joe

Peggy & Joe Plumadore

• Castaways nickname: Happy Hour Road Crew

• Tours Completed: 2013-Trip Around the Sun Tour; 2014-Don't Stop the Carnival Tour; 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

• Team Role/Function? Ground Support

• How did you become a Castaway? After my father’s passing of cancer 10 years ago, I reconnected with my half-brother Anthony at the funeral. That's when Joe and I learned that Anthony was a Castaway and we learned what the Castaways are all about. The following year we went to the launch, AJs, and also the Key Largo Marriot. Each year we did a little bit more until we became their full-time road crew and support system.

• Why are you a Castaway? Being a Castaway......well, it is the most rewarding, inspiring, touching, and emotional thing that Joe and I have ever been involved in. The Castaways give so much of themselves and we are honored to be called their road crew and to be a part of their journey. Not everyone can give so much of themselves; it takes a very special person to be a Castaway. Once you meet them and watch them come in from a day on the water, exhausted, beat, hurt, and with blisters on their hands, knowing that they are going to get up first thing the next morning and do it all over again, 6 more times is so amazing. I live by something Steve O'Brien said to me once after they landed in Key West, "Life is short, do good things". That's what we try to do by being a Castaway, doing good things.

• Outside a kayak/bicycle, what is your "essential" gear? For us, it's our ICON hard-sided cooler, that thing is a BEAST and keeps their drinks ice cold and ready for when they land after a day in the brutal heat on the water.

• Conch Republic Navy Rank? Haven’t had the honor of being inducted yet.

• Favorite Castaways moment: It's hard to put into words because it's all about emotions and what it means to be a Castaway. It was Ozzie's first trip, and it was his pure emotions that he felt and that I witnessed upon his landing in Key West. He realized what he had accomplished and I think at that moment, what it really meant to be called a Castaway. I can still see his tears running down his sunburned face.

• Favorite Castaways quote: "Life is short, do good things"—OB

• Tell us about your family: Joe and I have been married for over 35 years and we are proud grandparents to the newest road crew member, Lorelai Sarah! Our daughter, Lisa, and her husband Danny are essential road crew members. They live in Tavernier and for a week, their home is our "base camp" for all of the supplies that we need for the trip. Our son Michael, lives in Gainesville. If it wasn't for them, our road crew job would be more of a logistic challenge. 

• Where are you from? Peggy: Miami - Joe: Troy, NY

• Where'd you go to school? Peggy: Miami Killian & Miami Dade - Joe: Tamarac; Miami Dade & F.I.U.

• Where do you work? Peggy works from home running her small business, Mile Marker Memories, LLC. I make custom glass magnets and most of my customers are businesses in the Florida Keys. From my sales, I donate (20%) back to the Castaways. Joe and I also attend several events in the Florida Keys selling my crafts and from those sales I also donate to the cause. Joe is a retired P.E. teacher of 35 years from Leewood K-8 Center.

• Favorite music/artists: For me (Peggy), the bigger the hair the better the band! My favorite band/group is Motley Crue, my favorite country group is Montgomery Gentry, and my favorite single artist is Darius Rucker. Joe's favorite group is also Montgomery Gentry and his favorite single artist is Billy Joel, he has seen him 26 times!

• Favorite movies/genre: Joe and I both love It's a Wonderful Life and Let it Ride.

• Favorite books: Me, I don't read, I spend my spare time crafting things that I can sell to help raise money for the Castaways. Joe loves to read and has a TON of books, so many in fact that they are in our house, at his mom's house, and also in our storage unit! His favorite books are about the NY Yankees and anything by Mitch Albom, although one of his favorites is, Flags of our Fathers.

• Fun facts about you: Me, I really don't have any fun facts about me, but I am a really fun person to be around! Joe is an excellent cook. Joe is an excellent cook and loves to cook for his family and friends. He has 4 Big Green Eggs and he just got a Blackstone Griddle for Christmas.

• How have I helped carry out the CAC mission of funding cancer research and honoring those who have fought the fight? We plan to help the Castaways as their road crew and support team, handle things on land that they then don't have to worry about. We also hold fundraisers throughout the year.