Marr accomplished the American dream

Marr accomplished the American dream - A vintage photo of a man and a woman sitting in a car - Car
Marr during his days serving in the Navy during World War II. CONTRIBUTED

Pictures of Stuart Marr filled the tables and lined the rails as a large contingent from the community came out on July 13 to remember the Key Largo icon at Lighthouse Beach.

A philanthropist and successful developer in the Upper Keys, Marr passed away at age 92 on July 8. Born June 7, 1927 in Clear Lake, South Dakota, Marr moved with his family in 1959 to Tampa, Florida, and then to Miami. He finally ended up in Key Largo. A World War II veteran, Marr developed properties like Buccaneer Point and Port Largo.

Joy Martin, owner and broker at American Caribbean Real Estate, knew Marr for almost 30 years. Martin said he was mentor to her on many levels when she went into real estate. She said he very much enjoyed living in the Keys with community and business his staples.

“He used to tell me as years went by that his wife would want to travel and go on vacation, and he’d say, ‘I wake up and I feel on vacation.’ He just loved the Keys,” Martin said. “He didn’t evacuate his Oceanside home during Irma, much to the dismay of family members and wife. They stayed through the storm, and being on the open ocean through a hurricane is a scary proposition He had built that house and felt comfortable.”

Marr was instrumental in the growth and stability of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce. In the mid-1990s, Marr permitted the building of a facility on his property at MM 106, bayside, for the chamber and visitors center.

In 2015, the chamber was looking to remortgage the building to get a better loan rate. They couldn’t, however, since they didn’t own the land. After Marr received an explanation about the situation, he signed over the land to the chamber.

“We owe him a lot of gratitude because we’re here today and thriving as a Chamber of Commerce,” said president Elizabeth Moscynski. “He’s been part of this community for so long. We’re certainly grateful for all his contributions.”

Jim McCarthy is one of the many Western New Yorkers who escaped the snow and frigid temperatures for warm living by the water. A former crime & court reporter and city editor for two Western New York newspapers, Jim has been honing his craft since he graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 2014. In his 4-plus years in the Keys, Jim has enjoyed connecting with the community. “One of my college professors would always preach to be curious,” he said. “Behind every person is a story that’s unique to them, and one worth telling. As writers, we are the ones who paint the pictures in the readers minds of the emotions, the struggles and the triumphs.” Jim is past president of the Key Largo Sunset Rotary Club, which is composed of energetic members who serve the community’s youth and older populations. Jim is a sports fanatic who loves to watch football, hockey, mixed martial arts and golf. He also enjoys time with family and his new baby boy, Lucas, who arrived Oct. 4, 2022.