About Us

Storm Heroes is a web site containing the writing and artistic work of Bob and Ann-Marie Trapani, who have been avid lighthouse and lifesaving admirers since 1994 and have worked full-time over the last six years in the field of historic lighthouse and lifesaving preservation. Together with their children – Nina, Katrina and Dominic, the Trapani family has seen their personal journey in maritime preservation move from Delaware to Maine as they continue to work at what is best described as a family passion.

Inspired by their past and present experiences, Bob and Ann-Marie have created the web site Storm Heroes as a way to educate, entertain and inspire others as to the importance of America’s lighthouse and lifesaving heritage. By working together today to save this heritage – both its rich history and the physical lighthouse and lifesaving structures themselves, we will ensure the “light is left on” for future generations to appreciate and preserve when it comes their time to serve as “keepers.” Thus Storm Heroes is seeking to lend a helping hand to this team effort by sharing stories, experiences and perspectives gleaned along the wonderful journey we all love and cherish – a journey to save America’s beloved lighthouse and lifesaving heritage.

Today Bob serves as the executive director for the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF), a national lighthouse preservation organization headquartered in Rockland, Maine. In all ALF has responsibility for 23 historic light stations under its stewardship, which are located throughout the five states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. In addition, Bob is the new director for the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland as of January 15, 2007 following the exciting announcement that the American Lighthouse Foundation’s Museum of Lighthouse History will be integrated within the collection founded by Ken “Mr. Lighthouse” Black at the Maine Lighthouse Museum to form America’s largest lighthouse museum.

In May 2006, the Friends of Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in New Jersey presented Bob with their Freeling Hewitt Award for his work in the field of lighthouse and lifesaving preservation.

Bob previously co-founded the nonprofit Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation (DRBLHF) in 1999 and served as the organization’s first president from 1999 to 2005. Under his leadership the organization was able to secure a long-term lease of Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2002. Two years later the DRBLHF obtained ownership of Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse from the Department of the Interior through the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse would make history in June 2003 when it became the first offshore light in the mid-Atlantic to be opened to the general public for educational tours. During Bob’s six-year tenure the DRBLHF also obtained a long-term lease of Liston Range Rear Light from the U.S. Coast Guard and forged a ground-breaking partnership with the Delaware River & Bay Authority for the preservation of Delaware Breakwater East End Light.

In addition to his passion for lighthouse preservation, Bob served four years – from 2000 to 2003 – as the executive director of the Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation, caretakers of the historic 1876 Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum, located in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The lifesaving station is one of the few remaining on the Atlantic seaboard located on its original site and is opened to the general public for educational tours that teach about the rich history of the United States Life-Saving Service.

During this time (2000-01) Bob also worked part-time as a Vessel Dispatcher for the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River & Bay at the Cape Henlopen Ship Reporting Tower, which is located in Lewes on the tip of Cape Henlopen overlooking the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. The Maritime Exchange staffs the ship reporting tower in partnership with the Pilots’ Association for the Bay & River Delaware and monitors all commercial shipping traffic transiting the Delaware Bay and River for ports of call in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Bob penned a story entitled, “In Harm’s Way with no Place to Hide” that recalls working a shift at the Cape Henlopen Ship Reporting Tower on a stormy night.

In June 2001 Lighthouse Digest contributing writer Jeremy D’Entremont penned a story entitled, More than One Way to Help the Maritime Community... that presented an overview of Bob’s maritime activities during this time period. Bob authored his first book – Journey Along the Sands: A History of the Indian River Life-Saving Station, in 2002.

Bob is a contributing writer for Lighthouse Digest magazine, the United States Lighthouse Society’s Keeper’s Log and Wreck & Rescue, a publication of the United States Life-Saving Service Heritage Association. In addition, he has authored two books with Myst and Lace Publishers: Lighthouses of New Jersey and Delaware: History, Mystery, Legend & Lore (2005), and Lighthouses of Maryland and Virginia: History, Mystery, Legend & Lore (2006). Bob’s fourth book was released by The History Press in March 2007 and is entitled, Delaware Lights: A Hisotry of Lighthouses in the First State.

He also enjoys volunteering his time for the United States Coast Guard as an Auxiliarist, having spent five years working with the USCG Aids to Navigation Team Cape May, New Jersey (2000-2005). During this time he also worked on occasion with the USCG Aids to Navigation Team Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In Maine he has worked with the Coast Guard aids to navigation teams in South Portland as a member of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla out of Mount Desert. He presently works as an Auxiliarist aboard the U.S. Coast Guard 175-ft “Keeper Class” coastal buoy tender ABBIE BURGESS, whose home port is Rockland, Maine.

Bob was awarded the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Meritorious Service Award for his contributions to the field of aids to navigation from 2001 through 2003. Bob’s officer-in-charge at the time – Senior Chief Dennis Dever of USCG ANT Cape May (2000-04) penned a feature entitled, All in a Good ATON Day that highlights his service to the Coast Guard during this time period.

Ann-Marie is presently the associate director for the American Lighthouse Foundation. In addition, she is ALF’s webmaster. She previously served on the board of directors for the Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation for six years (1999-2005) and served as the webmaster for the DRBLHF during this time as well. Ann-Marie held the position of office manager for the Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation, caretakers of the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum, from 2000-2003. She is a talented computer graphic artist who enjoys using her skills to increase awareness for lighthouse preservation and the public’s appreciation for America’s rich lighthouse heritage.