Celebrating Pine Islanders: Elsie Stearns
Elsie Stearns, manager of Centennial Bank’s Pine Island branch, wife of Stearns Custom Builders owner Scott Stearns, who is also a proud mother and grandmother, as well as a Beacon of Hope board member, describes her relationship with Pine Island as love at first sight, which is fitting due to her love for both fishing and the water.
Anyone who knows her can attest that her love for the island is almost as vibrant as her love for the people who live here. In fact, she loves islanders so much, she joked that she thinks of them as her babies and should likely get a baby bag, in which to carry her things.
Although, she and Scott started out on Useppa Island, they moved to Pine Island in 1980, after she had already begun a life-long friendship with the late, beloved artist Mel Meo.
“When I first met Mel, I was definitely a city girl coming into an island life. My love for all the islands was pretty much apparent right off the bat. I often tell my grandkids, people spend a year saving up just so they can come here for one week, and we spend every day of our life here and usually leave here for one week to go elsewhere — it’s that kind of place,” Stearns said.
When the couple began living on Pine Island, she said, there were no banks, and there was no neighborhood Winn-Dixie yet, so she had to drive all the way to North Fort Myers to do her banking and shopping. When it comes to what Stearns has offered Pine Island, she said it began early on with things which she learned from her parents.
“I lost my dad at an early age. He and my mother both were very caring of people. My parents were always helping someone in some situation. I think I’ve brought that piece of what was instilled in me at a very early age — just caring for people and being a part of the community and trying to make a difference,” Stearns said.
In all her years as an islander, Stearns has done everything that’s come her way in an attempt to help the community, as she said she was on the Bobby Holloway Board for 22 years and a fire commissioner for 6 years, with 4 of those as chairman of the Fire Board.
“I love making things happen for people. That’s a big deal for me. Whether it’s banking, or the Beacon, or Bobby Holloway — whatever it is — I love being able to assist in some way and making something happen for individuals and for businesses. Caring for people, caring for the island and being able to provide some level of service is important to me,” Stearns said.
Of all her accomplishments, Stearns admits she’s found a unique joy in the relationship shared between her grown children. Her son Derrick Stearns, now shares part ownership of Stearns Custom Builders with Scott and her daughter, Darsey Stearns Smith, who is the administrative assistant and office manager of Stearns Custom Builders. She said it’s a rare thing indeed, for a sister and brother to be able to enjoy working together and have the relationship that they do.
Stearns said her biggest wish for Pine Island is that the island would continue to have old fishermen living seamlessly alongside some of the wealthiest people in the world.
“We can be such a variety of people and personalities and we’re still that loving, caring, compassionate, stand together type island. Stay humble, stay proud, stay compassionate and keep being all the things we’ve learned to be for generations to come,” Stearns said.
To reach PAULETTE LeBLANC / pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com, please email