Elaina & Thyatira Thompson

Vendovi Island Caretakers

Elaina was born and raised in a tiny town in southern Washington. Thyatira was born and raised in a small city near the center of Louisiana State. She holds a BA in Communication from WWU; he holds a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston. She ended up in the marine industry trying on almost every hat in the field, from yacht sales and service work to captaining throughout the San Juan Islands. He wound up teaching high-school math, molding young minds by day while, in off-hours, playing piano throughout New Orleans in clubs and churches every chance he got.

“We are both passionate about learning and growing, excelling outside the box, and bringing affinity and energy toward things we truly believe in,” they write. “Like a lichen to a tree,” they came together with a special blend of enthusiasm and diligence to live and care for Vendovi Island in 2017.

They add: “Becoming a part of the SJPT family has been the most rewarding and life-changing choice of our lives. Now that we’re here, we can’t imagine any other life that could compare.”

Elaina and Thyatira were joined on Christmas 2021 by junior caretaker Raeya Thompson.