Bob Conidaris nets Humanitarian Award
Bob Conidaris is a family man -first and foremost. He is also a private man who has accepted very few interviews during his time.
For more than 35 years, he and his wife, Grace (who passed away in June of 2008), lived in the Fort Myers area and developed the Lani Kai Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach into the all-inclusive mega-hotel it is today. The couple was also involved in building Estero Island into a community where businesses developed and flourished in the island setting.
Bob Conidaris, a contractor by trade, has gained numerous awards for his generosity and accommodations at his Beach resort. On Friday, Feb. 18, he was honored for his lifetime achievements by being chosen as the Humanitarian of the Year at the 2010 Best of the Beach Awards hosted by the Pink Shell Resort and presented by the Beach Observer/Beach Bulletin of Breeze Newspapers. (See a complete list of winners and photos on page 20 and 21 of this issue and more photos in the Beach Bulletin Friday.)
Conidaris, a native of Rochester, N.Y., moved to the area on the urging of Grace.
“My wife was the one who first liked the Fort Myers area between us. The reason we moved here was because of her,” he said.
This year marks the 33rd anniversary of the Lani Kai, a place that has seen many events happen on its property or stretched out into the Gulf. The Beach landmark has been a special meeting place for many people and, thus, has hosted numerous weddings ceremonies -including five of his eight children who actually met at the Lani Kai as well.
“That’s a good description of the Lani Kai. It’s a fun place,” said Bob. “We’ve had so many weddings here. I’ve met people who are on their 25th anniversary and come back for their anniversaries.”
Besides nuptials, a grocery list of local, state and national events have happened either on or nearby Lani Kai’s property. They include the original Blessing of the Fleet ceremony; the original Best of the Beach awards (first downstairs then upstairs); the original FMB Chamber of Commerce Commotion on the Ocean in the early 1980s; the Offshore Boat Races (son Michael was a throttleman at one race); the Air Shows; and various Jet Ski Races and Shows. Through it all, the Conidaris’ have hosted officials for most of the events and provided great views of the start and finish lines from the hotel’s rooftop.
“Anytime there was any type of event near the hotel, we were involved,” said Bob.
The Conidari’s were also involved in helping out underprivileged children during the holidays. Each year, for roughly 20 years, the pre-Spirit of the Holidays event featured the family and members of the local sheriff’s department hosting dozens of needy children at the hotel during Christmas. It provided weekend rooms, gifts, provisions and holidays to be remembered.
The holiday giving began while the Conidaris’ lived in Rochester. The couple used to donate to an orphanage each Christmas season.
When they moved down to the Beach, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was contacted to see if something similar could be accomplished. Then-Major John McDougal met Bob and together they decided that -since there was an orphanage in the area- they would send 30 underprivileged children to the Lani Kai to celebrate Christmas. The trip included a free weekend stay at the resort and a gift of their choice.
The Condaris’ actually hosted 80-90 kids the first year with brothers and sisters joining the selected underprivileged. The event went unpublicized because members of the press were not allowed since the Conidaris’ did not want the children to be exposed as underprivileged.
When the kids arrived, they came without suitcases and basic essentials such as toiletries. Bob said Grace would go out and buy everyone toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs and bathing suits. He also mentioned such suppliers like Budweiser and the Beach Fire Department were great contributors to the holiday efforts.
“We did that for approximately 20 years,” said Bob. “My wife was the handler with the kids, while the sheriff’s a-team men and honor students were the chaperones. Some kids would ask for socks and practical presents like that. McDougal (who became Sheriff during the course of the holiday givings) played Santa Claus and all the kids thought he was the real deal.”
Lani Kai kept a good relationship with the local police organization and hosted the Sheriff’s A-Team on Wednesdays and Fridays for lunch and the use of the pool. Conidaris still makes sure there is still a reserved spot for a squad car in his parking lot.
“I have a good repoire with the sheriff’s department. They keep this place nice and safe as well as the whole island,” he said.
Over the years, Conidaris has applauded the police department’s volunteer help. So grateful that he has hosted the Beach VOICE luncheon since the organization began.
“Without them directing traffic, we would have a bigger problem on this Beach,” he said.
Conidaris was also responsible for spearheading the public transit service to the Beach after building Summerlin Square, which he was part owner.
“I allowed people to park their cars at that plaza, and that’s how we started with the trolley cars,” he said.
More recently, the Lani Kai has played host to annual blood and bone marrow drives
in honor of Bob’s grandson, Kenny Conidaris, who suffers from aplastic anemia (a disease where the bone marrow stops making enough red and white blood cells and platelets for the body) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (a disease that can stem from aplastic anemia and occurs when abnormal blood-forming stem cells produce red blood cells with a defective protective layer).
The drive -which Bob’s daughter-in-law, Ann Conidaris, describes a “labor of love for the entire family”- will be in its sixth year. The community has opened up to such an event.
“Our local people are very generous,” added Bob.
Lani Kai actually had the most registrants in a single day in the state for bone marrow and was second in blood drive to Disney World. In the five years, organizers have collected at least 500 pints of blood per event all of which stays locally. Multiply that with the fact that one pint of blood has the capacity to save three lives, and you get at least 9,000 lives potentially saved.
Regarding the bone marrow donation, a person is listed on the registry only once. So it is difficult to keep the numbers up, because once you are on it, you are on it for good.
“It’s a testament to the people who have already done it but bring a neighbor the next time,” said Ann, who, by the way, is known for working on the Best of the Beach awards when she was employed at the Beach Bulletin.
The Conidaris family has aided in these blood and bone marrow drives by not only providing the location for the health organizations to set up and aiding those interested in donating, but by also providing free buffet food to those who do get involved. Bob has extended aid to his grandson who is still looking for a perfect match. He provides housing and health care up at Duke University.
“Mom and Dad bought a house there so that Kenny can have his own room and have his mother cooking for him,” said Ann. “Research says it’s healthier on the mind set to keep a child in the most normal surroundings as possible during the procedures.”
“The doctors say your attitude is the most important thing, so when he’s there, he is happy,” Bob added.
That shows a different side of Bob Conidaris. He is not only private, but also a proud man who knows many people know him and some do not like him. The latter crowd may change their minds if they knew how humble he is.
At a past chamber gala, the organization tried to honor Bob as an individual, but he refused and the honor was changed to the Family of the Year award.
Here’s more proof of his humble attitude. While being interviewed, Bob repeatedly gave all the credit to his deceased wife.
“We’ve received many awards from the sheriff’s department, but she accepted them all. She knew everybody, and I don’t know anybody who had one nasty thing to say about her,” he said. “Not everybody likes me, but they all liked her.
“She deserves this award. She’s the one that did all the work. It was actually fun for her. She enjoyed it. Thank God we were in the position to do all this.”
History of Lani Kai and the Conidaris’
Bob Conidaris was a contractor in his hey day. He supervised the building of the Lani Kai, an all-inclusive hotel with rooms, restaurants, bars, a piano lounge, times shares and a rooftop Sundeck.
Bob was the lead partner of three and eventually bought out his two partners within two years.
He purchased gliders from the Amish people, who built them in their community called Pennsylvania, N.Y. Members of the Amish community who would come down and stay at the hotel. The Lani Kai property has 40 of them in all.
Lani Kai was probably the first business on the island to employ an artist to paint murals all over the resort.
During the earlier years, Conidaris’ paving company was responsible for paving some of the Miami freeways and other super highways.
Conidaris had the foresight to buy land in what is now known as Estero. Some of that land is where Estero High School sits today as well as 148 acres across the street from it. That property is known as the Lakes of Estero subdivision into a 130 home site. It is recognized as one of the last big acquisitions in Real Estate in the past few years.
“Dad loves to build. He has had his hand in so many other projects,” said Ann Conidaris.
Conidaris has many acres of farmland in Arcadia and believes that area will develop into a ‘boomtown’ of sorts.
“I’ve had that property up there for 10-12 years. I like to buy land, put it into a land bank and then develop it,” he said.
The Conidaris’ decided to give up their charitable holiday work when Grace was diagnosed with cancer. When she passed in 2008, she was buried at Memorial Gardens off of Colonial, and Bob made sure to build an amazing memorial in her honor. That is where the Conidaris family plot is located today.