Celebrating Pine Islanders: James Wentz
Jim Wentz said the most important thing to know about him is likely his attitude, which leans toward a willingness to care for and to help those around him, in typical islander fashion.
He said he first came to Pine Island in 1998.
“I came here because I saw an ad for waterfront property for $35,000,” Wentz said.
At the time, he’d been living in Newport Beach, California, where he said, joking, a piece of dirt started at a million dollars. After surgery for the minor repair of a hernia, he was told he would not be able to work for 4 or 5 days, which Wentz said left him free to fly out here to visit his brother.
“We drove out to Pine Island and basically never left,” Wentz said.
After stopping in to Pine Island Realty, he said he was able to get a list of available properties as well as a map of the island. He was told that if he found anything which sparked his interest, the Realtor would take him to go and look at the property. He said he and his wife, Janet, were able to find a place, and they knew it was home the first day they drove around and looked at properties.
“That was when I’d decided to propose to Janet. I bought a house and asked her if she’d live there with me,” Wentz said.
After a great amount of time spent traveling between Newport Beach, California and Pine Island, he admitted the expense became too great to continue.
“We decided to move here full-time,” Wentz said.
Something, for which, he said he is well known is getting something done that he says he will complete. Although, here on Pine Island, Wentz said, he is best known for his work with F.I.S.H (Fellow Islanders Sending Help). He is currently the board president of this Pine Island organization, known best for helping Pine Islanders with various issues.
“I took over and we’ve grown considerably in reputation and financial strength since 2019,” Wentz said, adding that the people on Pine Island are extremely generous with both their money and resources.
Currently, there is a desperate need for volunteers for the F.I.S.H organization, he said. This is likely due to folks’ lack of understanding of what is expected of this position, he explained, saying there is no commitment.
“If you register with us as a volunteer and check off a couple of boxes as far as what you could do — transportation to doctor’s offices or delivering food for the Pine Island Food Pantry or just helping out in any way that you can,” Wentz said.
F.I.S.H, he said, currently has approximately 55 calls per month. Of those calls, he estimates perhaps 10 of them are likely to be folks who find themselves down on their luck financially, and 10-12 of the calls are likely to be for equipment, such as wheelchairs, which are loaned at no cost.
“Wheelchairs and walkers and all kind of durable medical equipment,” Wentz said.
The organization, he said, relies strictly on contributions from the community.
“We get a fair number of donations in memorial for people who were helped by F.I.S.H in the past and when their time comes, they want to help out in their own way, so they remember us in their will,” Wentz said.
Volunteering for F.I.S.H can be as little time as a couple of hours a month, he said.
Pine Island FISH is a volunteer non-profit group helping residents in Matlacha and Pine Island. They offer free non-emergency rides, medical equipment loans, emergency financial help, and caregiver support. Call their help line at (239) 283-4442 or visit Pine Island FISH for assistance or to volunteer.
To reach PAULETTE LEBLANC / pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com, please email