Dr. Murray "Murf" Klauber

Dr. Murray "Murf" Klauber, the man who helped transform Longboat Key, Florida from a sleepy Florida town into a favored getaway for tourists, celebrities, politicians and sports personalities from around the world, died at his Longboat Key home on Thanksgiving, surrounded by his wife, Sue Bassett-Klauber and four generations of family members. He was 91 years old.

Murf Klauber was a Renaissance man — originally an orthodontist by trade, entrepreneur, developer, visionary and founder and chief executive officer of Longboat Key’s famed Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, where ironically, the last building, which included his home, was demolished on Wednesday, the day before he died.

The Colony was, in its heyday, ranked the No. 1 tennis resort in the nation by Tennis Magazine, and was the resort where President George Bush stayed during his visit leading up to 9/11. It was soon after the motorcade had left the resort and taken the president to Booker Elementary School, where he received news of the 9/11 attacks. Murf, who had met with the President that morning, said, "We were right on the edge of history that day."

Murf was born in Buffalo, New York in 1927 to parents Dr. Philip and Lillian. After serving in the Navy, he attended the University of Buffalo and the University of Pennsylvania, eventually becoming an orthodontist and opening his orthodontic practice in Buffalo.

In 1967, everything changed when his first wife, Joanna Brown, encouraged him to visit this "magical island." Murf flew down "and my love affair with Longboat Key began," he said.

In 1970, he purchased The Colony and set about transforming it into a world-class, tennis-centered resort – the first all-suite resort in the US with 240 rooms, 21 tennis courts, retail shops and a renowned dining establishment, all set on 18 Gulf-front acres.

The original home of the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, The Colony attracted some of the world's greatest names in tennis. "If it wasn't for Murf Klauber allowing me to start at The Colony," said Bollettieri, "the Nick Bollettieri Academy and IMG Academy would never have been," he said. Among the tennis stars who could be seen on The Colony's courts were Arthur Ashe, Billy Jean King, Chris Evert, Bjorn Borg, Monica Seles, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and step-daughter Carling Bassett-Seguso, among many others.

Many politicians and celebrities also vacationed at The Colony over the years, including Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Tommy and Dick Smothers, Dan Rowan, Doris Day, Bud Collins, Dustin Hoffman, Dudley Moore, Molly Ringwald, Bryant Gumble, Denzel Washington and James Taylor, and countless others.

His daughter, Katie Klauber-Moulton, became resort’s general manager, while eldest son, Michael, ran the food-and-beverage operations before opening his own restaurant, Michael's on East. Youngest son, Tommy, also trained at the Colony and operated restaurants in Aspen and on the Gulf Coast.

A consummate visionary, 48 years ago, Murf developed the first plans for reimagining the Sarasota bayfront (a project which Murf's son, Michael, is deeply involved today). He was successful in developing The Hyatt Regency Sarasota and One Watergate Condominium as part of his bayfront dream. Ever the passionate dreamer, in 1999, Murf created futuristic plans for redeveloping 22 acres of Sarasota's downtown as Ringling Park. After failing to get support for the project from local elected officials, undaunted, he tried to take a similar concept to the now Channelside District in Tampa.

While The Colony was the crown jewel of Murf's accomplishments, he was also involved with real estate mogul Michael Saunders, in developing the first luxury time-share on Longboat Key. During their many-year partnership, Drayton Saunders became like a third son to Murf.

Another of Murf’s other passions was skiing and he loved his time in Aspen, Colorado. One of the early ski instructors on Aspen Mountain, he loved his yearly birthday trips there and regularly brought his entire extended family to “yodel down the mountain” with him until he was 90.

Murf lived the Longboat Key lifestyle, often wearing his trademark shorts, a colorful, tropical shirt and loafers with no socks. He started every day with a walk on the beach he loved. Although, the Colony is now gone, Murf’s visionary dreams, beloved Longboat Key beach and cherished family will live on.

Klauber is survived by his third wife of 31 years, Sue Bassett Klauber, his children, Michael (Terri), Katie Klauber-Moulton (Michael) and Tommy (Jaymie); stepchildren John Bassett (Dianne), Victoria Bassett (Meredith), Carling Bassett-Seguso (Robert) and Heidi Blair (Chris); grandchildren Kelly Klauber, Molly Klauber-Biter (Ethan), Mikayla Klauber, Maxwell Klauber, Jessica Smith (Gerrid), Kristopher Klauber; Holden, Carling Shea (Brek), Ridley, Lennon and Theodora Seguso, Nicholas and Hatley Walker; Heather, Christiana and Hartley Blair, Ceara and Chad Crews; and great-grandchildren Elijah, Samuel and Judah Smith; Phoenix, Zepplin and Raine Shea; twins Maya and Ellie Biter; Nevaeh and Faith Crews and Lily Klauber.

A celebration of life will be held in January. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Murf Klauber Memorial – Bayfront Bridge Fund at The Gulf Coast Community Foundation, 601 Tamiami Trail South, Venice, FL 34285 – www.gulfcoastcf.org/murfklauber.