LBK Citizen of the Year Fuller, 79, dies

Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key 2008 Citizen of the Year Claudia Fuller died Wednesday. She was 79.

Born Dec. 30, 1929, in Chicago, she met her first husband, Dick Vennell, at Northern Illinois State University in DeKalb, Ill., where both were education majors. She taught elementary school for about a year before Jeanette, the oldest of her three daughters, was born, and then became a stay-at-home mom to her three daughters.

Fuller was active in her Park Ridge, Ill. community, where she raised money with her women’s group to build a playground, participated in the local Republican club and chamber of commerce and was known for throwing parties.

In 1970, Fuller’s mother settled on Longboat Key after driving across the entire state of Florida looking for the perfect retirement spot. In 1990, Fuller followed her to Longboat Key, where she quickly became involved in local issues.

Her community involvement continued after the death of her husband, Dick, in 1993. In 1994, she accepted an invitation to join the board of the Longboat Key Public Interest Committee.

In 1999, Fuller married her husband, Chuck, who was her neighbor at Buttonwood Harbour.

Fuller served as president of the Republican Club of Longboat Key, secretary of the Code Enforcement Board and chair of the Longboat Key Garden Club’s Butterfly Garden.

Fuller is survived by her husband, Chuck, and daughters Jeanette Caproon, Polly Johns and Meg Carlson.