But Waksler left his mark by establishing a local
landmark, the longtime family-run Morton's Ace Hardware. He also
left behind fond memories and deep respect in the hearts of his
friends and family.
Born May 22, 1918, in Springfield, Mass., Morton Waksler served
as a troubleshooter for the U.S. Navy during World War II. He
then owned and operated a sporting goods store called Toyland in
Scarsdale, N.Y. Morton moved here in 1973, following the path of
an uncle who had bought a homesite from General Development
Corporation. Morton loved getting out on the water and always
loved deep-sea fishing. He became a partner in the Ballantyne
Construction Co., which built some of the area's prominent
commercial buildings. While working for Ballantyne, Waksler
found he had to drive to Sarasota or Tampa to get supplies for
the jobs. Morton saw a need for a store that catered to contract
builders and started Morton's. Three years after starting the
store, Morton handed the keys to his son Joe. |
