Press Release: October 2025

By Tom Wicks, (2025 Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta Committee--Publicist)

With the 30th Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta over and the race winners properly noted, it’s time to give credit to some of the others who worked so hard and so long to help make this such a success.  

When regatta co-founder John McConnico passed away last April, many learned of his huge contributions of time, boundless energy, perseverance and love for this regatta and the hospice services it has helped for the last 30 years. But some may not have realized that behind such a man was also such a woman with such zeal, who also gave of her time, bringing love, caring and respect for this fundraiser, the people who ran it each year and for those who worked year-round to ensure that these proceeds benefitted patients and their families.

John Tidwell of the Yankee Point Yacht Club and co-chair of this regatta had the great pleasure to introduce Carole Jean McConnico, John McConnico's widow, to the gathered crowd on Saturday Oct. 4th, to recognize her contributions across all the Turkey Shoot regattas and to honor her for her energy, her focus and her love and respect for the many who worked with her. 

Carole Jean accepted from Tidwell, on behalf of the local Committee, a Life-time Achievement Award for her 35 years of work and support of all the Turkey Shoot Regattas, including the first five run before joining the Hospice program.  Carole Jean, grateful for this recognition, thanked the Committee for this award, noting that she was only one of many who had supported the regatta and had collaborated over more than three decades.

The Chairman thanked everyone and returned the crowd to their desserts, drinks, dancing and discourse-- into the evening.

And during the Awards ceremony the next morning Oct. 5th, the crowd witnessed another woman to receive a different award:  John Tidwell then called Kimberly Vail, a die-hard regatta supporter and member of the Rappahannock River Yacht Club, to the microphone. She was awarded the 2025 Local Hospice Hero Award for her 17 years of working energetically on the committee, for many years managing the registration process, ensuring all boats, skippers and crew got their documents and other materials.  

Kimberly was delighted to accept this Award, given annually to the team member who, by vote of the Committee, has shown outstanding teamwork, spirit, endurance and overall quality of her contributions over the years.  

Photos by Tom Wicks, credits as noted.