Ali DiSabatino
Ali DiSabatino is a Florida native, a wife, a restauranteur, and the proud mom of Mitch (13), Julia (14), and Mya (16).
Ali attended The Florida State University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems. Upon graduating, she worked and traveled as an eCommerce consultant with Cap Gemini, Ernst, & Young, followed by Commerce One. Five years later, Ali moved from Tampa to Lewes where she helped Matt, her then boyfriend (now husband) open Striper Bites Bistro in 2001.
Initially, you could find Ali at the host stand of Striper Bites, wiping down tables, or in the office paying bills, paying taxes, and running payroll. In 2007, Matt and Ali opened Half Full in January, followed by Kindle in June. This allowed Ali to step away from the front of the house at Striper Bites and split her time in the office between the three restaurants…as well as start a family.
Before children, Ali was a member of the Finance Committee for the Lewes Yacht Club for 2 years. More recently, she served as a member of the Board for Friends of the Lewes Canalfront Park(2014-2017). In 2017, Ali volunteered as a coach for the Girls on the Run team for Lewes Elementary (formerly Shields Elementary). In 2020, Ali was part of the inaugural team that created the new tradition of Lewes Lights in our small beach community for many holiday seasons to come. Also in 2020, Ali began a three year term on the Board of Clear Space Theatre Company where she was an active member of both the Governance and Executive Committee.
In 2021, Ali and Matt sold Striper Bites to allow more time to spend with their family. Currently, Ali is still holding down the behind-the-scenes responsibilities at Half Full and Kindle. In 2022, Ali accomplished one of her biggest goals by completing the Grateful Souls 200-hour yoga teacher training. In her spare time, she loves to read, read some more, and practice yoga. Namaste…
Dee Dee Montgomery
Diana Montgomery, most recognized as Dee Dee from friends and family, is a dedicated wife and stay at home mom of two children.
A graduate of University of Maryland University College of Business and Montgomery College of Arts; Dee Dee lives in Rehoboth Beach with her husband Steve Montgomery and children Savannah (17) and Brooklyn (13).
Before moving to Rehoboth Beach full time, Dee Dee was a Product Manager for Onsite Sourcing in Washington, DC. Responsibilities included managing customer service, scheduling job productivity, dealing with clients and technical issues, preparing job orders for billing, and acting as liaison between sales and technical support. Prior to that, she worked as an Account Executive for RCI Group, Inc where responsibilities included meeting specific corporate sale goals, designing, and implementing a time schedule for client appointments; and maintaining and collecting account receivables.
Dee Dee has always had a true passion for the service industry; she was raised in a family-owned restaurant that taught her the true meaning of hard work. Spending time as a floor manager at Shelly’s Back Room restaurant in Rockville, Chicago, and Washington, DC, then moving to the beach to continue in the service industry with The Starboard Restaurant and Bethany Blues BBQ until the birth of her first child, she has continued with the restaurant industry when time allows as a proud mom.
Dee Dee is also a founding member of a nonprofit organization Festival of Cheer from 2015 to 2021. We organized and event called Winter WonderFEST a light spectacular in Lewes, Delaware that support other nonprofits in Sussex County.
Currently with two young children, Dee Dee spends her days with the most rewarding occupation of her life…that of a full-time mom.
Brittany Danahy
Brittany Danahy, Brit to most is a loving wife to Kevin and mom to two great kids, McKenna (17) and Shea (15). Professionally, Brittany is a commercial real estate broker of 25 years focusing on the leasing and sale of retail, office, and investment properties throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Brittany was the Mid-Atlantic real estate manager for Chipotle Mexican Grill (covering MD, DC, VA, NC & WV) before moving to DSM Commercial 12-years ago to lead their Sussex County office. As a working mom , when she is not at the office, she can be found on the pickeleball courts, walking her two labs on the beach, surfing, training for the next triathlon or listening to live music with friends.
Brittany was born just outside Boston, MA and spent her formative years growing up alongside her two younger sisters in Shrewsbury, MA. Due to traumatic head injury her father sustained while helping a neighbor renovate a restaurant, Brittany and her family relocated to sunny south Florida the summer before her sophomore year of high school. Brittany attended The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach, FL where her mother taught (and still teaches) kindergarten. While at Benjamin, Brittany met a sweet, smart, quiet boy named Brett Weinstein. Brett was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at 2-weeks old and although you would never guess by looking at him, this tennis playing, wake-boarding, life of the party was balancing life and health daily. Brittany started dating Brett junior year and by graduation they were inseparable, Brett even transferred colleges (U of Miami to U of Florida) before the freshman semester even began. While college life was not typical, with daily visits to Shands Hospital for CPT (chest physio-therapy sessions), Brett’s health remained in check. Things took a turn during an abnormal cold snap at UF sending him back to his home hospital in West Palm Beach where the decision was made to transfer to the warmer climate of U of Miami, also closer to WPB. Brittany followed the next semester when Brett rushed a fraternity with a close high school friend, living life to the fullest. Brett’s health remained in check until the end of sophomore year when he had noticeably trouble breathing. After what we though would be a typical ‘tune-up’, PFTs told a different story, the need to be listed for a double-lung transplant. Brett, his mom Debbie, father Harris, brother 6-years younger Jamie and I were air ambulanced to University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, one of two hospitals in the country at the time who were preforming double-lung transplants on Cystic Fibrosis patients with Bercolderia Sepatia (a very bad, drug resistant bacteria – think 6ft Apart). Brett, his mom and I lived in and out of the hospital for close to a year. One afternoon as we were sorting slides for a doctor we particularly liked, Dr. Yankaskis, Brett asked me a question – to marry him. Of course I said yes and a wedding was planned for May of 1999 in Florida. Brett with a canula of oxygen, surrounded by 250 friends and family, me by his side walked down the isle with smiles on our faces. We were hoping for lungs and knew that we would get them as soon as we got back to Chapel Hill. We did get a call, I actually got a message on my beeper while playing club field hockey for UNC that a match had been found, a B+ boy was in a terrible accident in Missouri. The team was sent, his lungs were harvested but unfortunately they had sustained too much damage in the accident to be viable. We were devastated. Back to the 5th floor we went, waiting and hoping for a miracle that ultimately never came. On March 13, 2020 passed away in the ICU surrounded by family, his body donated to others in need.
I tell my story through tears as it is such a big part of who I am, losing someone you love at such a young age is gutting, words cannot describe. But when you are faced with a choice you make it and live bigger for those who cannot. I am lucky to have a second family in the Weinsteins, a husband who is understanding and kids who carry Brett’s name and have grown up showing compassion for others.
When Ali approached me about being a part of Small Wonder Warriors, knowing my story, I was an automatic YES. I know first hand how difficult it is to live in a hospital room, closed off from the ‘real world’. Knowing the community, the entire State is thinking of you will make such a difference to these Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles who are there day in and day out. I hope it brings a little smile to their face on the first day of spring.