The first time I ever heard of Boca Raton was on an episode of “Seinfeld,” when Jerry’s retired parents moved there and the jokes about shuffleboard and the fictional community of Del Boca Vista began. At the time, Boca sounded more like a punchline than a real place — until I visited myself. I was a college student in New York City, and when a close friend and I decided to visit Miami, we stayed with her parents, who were retired and living in Boca Raton. Days before we were scheduled to head south, the catastrophic Hurricane Andrew unleashed its fury on Miami, leaving a wake of destruction in its path.
Our plane was the first one allowed to land after the storm. As it descended, large swaths of damage hinted at the devastation below. Another friend lived in Homestead — one of the hardest-hit areas — and lost nearly everything. I spent part of that trip helping out where I could, driving through Miami’s battered neighborhoods, past fallen trees, torn roofs and downed powerlines. When I would return to Boca Raton — a city that, while geographically close, felt like another world entirely — its quiet streets and carefully tended gardens offered something I hadn’t realized I needed on that trip: a sense of calm amid the chaos.
I stayed in Boca Raton for a while, soaking in the peace and embracing the slower pace of life. Mornings were quiet enough to hear the birds chirping, the skies were wide and blue and there wasn’t a sense of urgency in the air. Up until then, I had only lived in bustling cities — first Caracas, then Tel Aviv, followed by Boston then crowned by Manhattan. I had never given suburban living a second thought.
It’s been 32 years since Hurricane Andrew, and much has happened. I went from being a tourist to a resident of South Florida, getting married and raising two fabulous kids. And while I settled in a different suburb, fate eventually led me back to Boca Raton — my first South Florida refuge — through the work I love.
It feels fitting that I get to help tell the story of this remarkable city. After all, it brought me such comfort when I was just starting out as an adult, so finding myself in its orbit once again in midlife feels like a beautiful full-circle moment. And while I relish celebrating all the incredible aspects of Boca Raton in every issue of our magazine, I’m beyond honored to give it the spotlight it so richly deserves with this special centennial edition.
Because Boca Raton isn’t just about its residents, its picturesque neighborhoods, its pristine coastline or its vibrant culture. It’s also about the impression it leaves on those who simply pass through — like I did so many years ago — and the quiet clarity it offers to those willing to slow down and take it in.
Here’s to Boca Raton — 100 years strong and still as inspiring as ever.
Happy Reading,
Alona Abbady Martinez
alona@bocaratonobserver.com