wayne huizenga yacht photos

Yacht ‘transcended money’ for Huizenga Sr.

By Dorie Cox

Owning a yacht was not like H. Wayne Huizenga Sr.’s other ventures. The billionaire entrepreneur, who died March 22 at age 81, was known for rolling up businesses and building successful Fortune 500 companies.

But his 230-foot Oceanfast M/Y Floridian was different.

“The yacht was not a money-maker,” said Capt. George Whitehouse, who worked for Mr. Huizenga’s on M/Y Floridian. “The yacht was for him to be with friends and family. … The money doesn’t come close in the equation of family and friends. I think for him, that transcended money.”

South Florida knows of Mr. Huizenga through his companies – Waste Management, Blockbuster Entertainment and AutoNation; and the sports teams he founded – baseball’s Florida Marlins and hockey’s Florida Panthers, as well as football’s Miami Dolphins, which he owned for a time.

But his yacht crew knew him on a different level. When Mr. Huizenga was aboard with his family, it was less about work than making sure everyone enjoyed themselves. And, to Capt. Whitehouse’s surprise, that included his 18 crew.

“Mr. H took a personal interest in us,” he said, using one of the two nicknames Mr. Huizenga’s colleagues affectionately knew him by: “Mr. H” or “Senior.”

“That was probably the only yacht crew I know of that was upset when the owner got off the boat,” Capt. Whitehouse said.  “That was so rare. We wanted them, he and [his wife] Marti, on the boat. They were so fun.”

Capt. George Whitehouse recalls how Mr. H. Wayne Huizenga Sr. enjoyed M/Y Floridian, and especially the crew. Photo by Dorie Cox

Capt. Whitehouse, who now serves as business development director at Lauderdale Marine Center, fondly recalled his opportunity to work for Mr. Huizenga in the early 2000s as “the best experience of my life”.

Mr. Huizenga was known for hiring well and letting those people run things. Capt. Whitehouse followed that example, employing the best of the people he had met during his years in yachting. He hand-picked crew from his longtime colleagues, with an eye to personality and respectfulness. Most importantly, he made sure everyone could blend as a team. And it worked.

“I saw how Mr. H respected everyone and made you feel good,” Capt. Whitehouse said. “We all blossomed.”

Boats were most always a part of the Huizenga life, as the family had homes on the water in Fort Lauderdale and at the yacht club they built in Palm City, Florida. The boats were well-used, with destinations ranging from Nova Scotia to the Caribbean and over to the Mediterranean.

Capt. Mark Elliott met Mr. Huizenga in Mexico in the early 1970s. Mr. Huizenga was in the country for a garbage convention and rented Capt. Elliott’s small boat for fishing. When Capt. Elliott had the opportunity to work with Mr. Huizenga as a permanent captain running several of the family’s yachts, he jumped at the chance. Now a yacht sales and charter consultant at IYC, Capt. Elliott brokered the Floridian purchase.

“We flew to Barcelona, stayed for one hour, he liked it, we made a deal and flew back,” Capt. Elliott said. “Senior was a great negotiator.”

That deal hinged on the ability to add a helipad for a 12-passenger helicopter, an innovation in the industry at the time.

“It was designed to take his friends and their golf clubs,” Capt. Elliott said. “When he wasn’t using it, it was used to  take guests and the crew for rides. It was all about having people share in his fun and enjoyment.”

M/Y Floridian, seen here at Bahia Mar Yachting Center in Fort Lauderdale in 2005, just after Mr. Huizenga had it refit in Jacksonville, Florida, to expand the deck to make room for the helipad. Originally launched as M/Y Aussie Rules, the yacht was under the command of Capt. Charles Hacker, far right. Triton file photo

As did the Whitehouses, Capt. Elliott witnessed throughout the years how Mr. Huizenga’s small actions had huge impacts on yacht crew.

“He called all of us ‘partner’ and he made you feel like a partner,” Capt. Elliott said. “He said ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ These actions let you know your decisions were very important.”

Another key was that Mr. Huizenga trusted people. Much of that stems from a deep part of Mr. Huizenga’s makeup.

“Let’s face it, he was the epitome of someone who never forgot where he came from and how hard he worked,” Capt. Whitehouse said.

Chief Stew and Purser Alyssa Whitehouse, wife of Capt. Whitehouse, experienced that first-hand.

“When guests are on, we are their servants and we do our job serving them,” she said. “But Mr. and Mrs. H looked at us as equals. The entire family was so sincere, so grounded and down-to-earth. Remember, Mr. H physically picked up people’s garbage, so he respected people doing any job similar to that.”

Mr. Huizenga had “a nice and gentle presence,” Capt. Elliott said.

“I think people would be surprised to know how down-to-earth he was,” he said. “He would take time to talk to a plumber or the chairman of a company. If there was a doorman, he knew his name.”

The Whitehouses give credit to Mr. Huizenga and his family for treating the crew so well, and they hope that legacy will serve as a model for other yacht owners.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think most owners give a huge importance to the relationship with the captain and crew. I don’t think they give it the importance it deserves,” Capt. Whitehouse said.

If yacht owners could see the value, they may better keep crew problems and job turnover to a minimum, he said.

“I am not sure how to teach that, but Mr. Huizenga did it day to day. He led by example his whole life,” Capt. Whitehouse said.

The Huizengas sold the Floridian sometime around 2007, and they did not buy another large yacht. The Whitehouses continued to work with the family at Rybovich, a shipyard that Mr. Huizenga purchased with his son, H. Wayne Huizenga Jr. Capt. Whitehouse became the business liaison and customer relations manager and Alyssa Whitehouse used her background to handle marketing and graphic design.

Rybovich changed the face of yachting in the Palm Beach area with a full-service marina, refit yard and facilities for crew on yachts up to 300 feet. The yard weathered the economic downturn to remain a megayacht spot.

“It was Junior’s mission,” Capt. Whitehouse said of the company CEO. “He had a vision with an open slate when the real estate market was not there. Junior is fantastic; he has the spirit of his father. I think he likes to be in this industry.”

And as with Mr. Huizenga’s love for his yacht, Capt. Whitehouse said, Huizenga Jr.’s love for Rybovich has turned it into a world-class megayacht destination.

“I don’t think other people would have put that money into it,” Capt. Whitehouse said. “I don’t think the money is as big as their passion.”

Mr. Huizenga’s passion for boating continued even after he sold M/Y Floridian and, technically, got out of yachting.

“Mr. H called me and said, ‘I got a houseboat. My captain wears suspenders, and he makes a mean hotdog,’” Capt. Elliott said. “He was happy.”

In addition to his love of life, his captains and crew said they will mostly remember Mr. Huizenga for his kindness.

“It was an honor to work for him,” Capt. Whitehouse said. “If yachting had more families like the Huizengas, that would make yachting one of the best businesses in the world.”

Dorie Cox is editor of The Triton. Comments are welcome below.

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About Dorie Cox

Dorie Cox is a writer with Triton News.

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Wayne’s World at Rybovich Shipyard

Creating the Rybovich Superyacht Yard & Marina is a continuing process for Wayne Huizenga Jr. and his crew.

Sometime in 1900, a 16-year old Austro-Hungarian immigrant by the name of John Rybovich, equipped with some carpentry experience and little else, made it to the shores of the eastern United States, passing through Ellis Island and settling in New York City. Finding work in construction and the burgeoning building sector that the ever-expanding metropolis was undergoing, the young Rybovich began to hear conversations about Florida.

With industrialist Henry Flagler’s railroad connecting the northeast to the south and thus responsible for the development of the state’s Atlantic coast, Florida, and in particular Palm Beach, soon became a haunt for the rich and powerful. To John Rybovich, that meant an opportunity to get in on the kind of work he was capable of doing.

Exclusive Billionaire Interview with Wayne Huizenga

Wayne Huizenga is the President and Founder of South Wake Capital. Prior to founding the firm, he worked as the director of sales and operations at Rybovich Superyacht Marina, the largest superyacht marina in the world.

In 2020, he led the sale of Rybovich to Safe Harbor, constituting the largest marina acquisition in history. Wayne spent a large portion of his time at Rybovich identifying and evaluating roll up targets for the company.

Wayne was a founding board member of the Water Revolution Foundation, an organization focused on evaluating the impact of yachts on the environment and setting a universal scale for assessment and improvement of the fleet. Wayne and his family continue to invest in and operate several private companies through Huizenga Holdings, known for founding five Fortune 500 companies.

1) What is #1 insight you could share with other families who have recently come into the public eye for selling a business, or going public, and are figuring out the basics of how to manage expectations and rules within the family for the next generation? In other words, what works really well on keeping the family aligned and together within successful families based on your experience?

Within most family offices, members take various levels of involvement in the day-to-day and long-term activity and decision-making process. That said, establishing clear communication and shared values within the family, regardless of their level of operational involvement, are prerequisite to functioning well. This involves regular family meetings where all members are encouraged to voice their opinions and concerns and expectations are regularly updated or reiterated. We also emphasize the significance of education in financial literacy, responsible wealth management, and shared family values from an early age.

2) Many people never get a chance to get to know families such as yours, they simply read about them online, or in the newspaper. What do you think is the top misconception others have about being part of a family with a long heritage of success and leadership?

One common misconception about families like ours is the belief that we make business and financial decisions in a sort of vacuum. In reality, our choices are significantly shaped by our family’s values and belief systems, which have been developed and nurtured over many decades.

When evaluating investment opportunities, for example, we look beyond the surface-level financial prospects. We consider the broader impact of each investment and how it aligns with our core principles. If an investment, despite being financially lucrative, conflicts with our deeply held beliefs or compromises something we hold important, we choose not to pursue it.

This could involve supporting ventures that we believe have a positive impact on communities or more often avoiding investments in industries that may have adverse effects on society.

3) You must get approached by the hour or at least daily with a new startup that wants funding, a business that needs capital, or an investment of some sort. What small niche area are you focused on, or how do you clear out 99.99% of that noise and what types of messages or offers of value break through all of that clutter for someone in your position?

We try to begin with the end in mind. Each of the members of the family has their own individual goals and objectives, both financial and non-financial, that can then be combined into strategic objectives for the family as whole. With the bigger picture and end goal in mind, we will work backwards and determine what types of investments would help us meet those goals. Working backwards this way helps us create clarity on the types and characteristics of investments we need.

For example, if we have identified that we need more high cash flow, early return of capital investments compared to long term high growth investments, this helps us filter the types of opportunities we spend the most time and focus evaluating.

COVID-19 government disaster loans saved businesses, but saddled survivors with debt

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Local legend with an international reach, H. Wayne Huizenga, has died.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEGACY.COM

Staff Report

EDITOR’S NOTE: The obituary was provided by the Huizenga family and edited for context.

H. Wayne Huizenga, entrepreneur, business leader, philanthropist and beloved patriarch of the Huizenga family has passed on to be with his Heavenly Father.

He was 80 years old. Huizenga was a humble man who always wanted to simply be known as “Wayne.” Whether you were a Fortune 100 CEO or the valet at the front door, he treated everybody with the same respect and friendliness. As a longtime Fort Lauderdale resident, he played a major role in the business and social growth of the community.

Wayne was born in the Chicago area on December 29, 1937. He moved to Fort Lauderdale as a young man and attended High School at Pine Crest School. He fell in love with Fort Lauderdale and made it his permanent home; raising his family and building multiple businesses there. He passed in his house on the New River surrounded by family after a decades long battle with cancer.

Throughout his professional career Wayne never forgot his beloved Fort Lauderdale. He headquartered his companies there, recruiting the best and brightest to join him and, in the process, created thousands of jobs. He actively engaged in community leadership and encouraged his employees to do so as well. He and his wife Marti donated well over $150 million to local causes. Wayne was known for his quick sense of humor (he loved a good joke), infectious laugh, kindness to all and for his selflessness. He always wanted to make sure everyone had a good time.

Wayne began his remarkable business career with the purchase of a single garbage truck in 1962. He built a thriving business which lead to his co-founding Waste Management (“WMI”) in 1971. By 1981, WMI was the largest waste company in the world. He “retired” from WMI and soon formed what became Huizenga Holdings (“HHI”). Over the ensuing years he began purchasing a series of service companies in South Florida.

His next big venture, however, was Blockbuster which he discovered in 1987. He headquartered Blockbuster in Fort Lauderdale and over the next seven years he created thousands of jobs while growing the company from 19 stores to over 3,700 in 11 countries. WMI and Blockbuster both became Fortune 500 companies listed on the NYSE.

After selling Blockbuster in 1994, and generating attractive returns for the shareholders, Wayne acquired control of Republic Waste Industries (which became Republic Services), a small regional garbage company in Atlanta Georgia, in 1995. He quickly relocated the company to Fort Lauderdale and grew it into the third largest waste disposal company in the U.S.

In a 13-month period Wayne became Chairman of four NYSE companies: Republic Services, AutoNation, Extended Stay America and the Florida Panthers (which later became Boca Resorts). During this same time, he was owner and chairman of the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins and Florida Panthers.

Wayne was the only person in history to take six companies to the NYSE; lead three Fortune 500 companies and own three major league sports franchisees at the same time. Wayne’s achievements and generosity were widely recognized. He was honored by the Horatio Alger Association, named “World Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young and named “Man of the Centennial” for Fort Lauderdale’s 100th Anniversary, among many others. He also took the lead in creating of the Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University. Wayne demonstrated that where innovation and leadership converge, it can be the spark for achievement in the global marketplace.

A memorial service will be held at the AuRene Theater at the Broward Performing Arts Center promptly at 10:00 AM on Thursday morning March 29. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cleveland Clinic of Florida Maroone Cancer Center, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, Junior Achievement of South Florida and/or the Nova Southeastern University H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship Scholarship Fund.

Wayne is survived by his four children; Wayne Jr., Pamela, Scott and Ray and his 11 grandchildren, Savannah, Tres, Gerritt, Ainsley, Jacob, Shelby, Chloe, Matthew, Hanah, Josh and Gabriella, his sister Bonnie, his niece Holly Bodenweber, his nephew Steven Hudson and his brother-in-law Whit Hudson. His wife Marti pre-deceased him in January 2017.

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Personal: 54. Married to Fonda for 24 years. Four children: Savannah, 22, Wayne III (Trey) 20, Gerritt, 15, and Ainsley, 13.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business from University of Tampa, 1985.

Career Highlights: Bought Rybovich in 2004 and oversaw major expansion of the marine company’s operations. Working with The Related Group to build more than 1,000 condominiums on the site over the next 10 years.

Community involvement: Board member for the Luis Palau Association, founder and board member for the Christian Community Foundation of South Florida. In January 2013, appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system.

Hobbies : Saltwater and freshwater fishing, scuba diving, snow skiing, hunting.

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In 2010, Houston businessman, Jim Crane, purchased Floridian from H. Wayne Huizenga and quickly turned the spectacular property into one of the nation’s premier golf clubs. Renovations began in Spring of 2011. In seven months, Floridian reopened with a freshly renovated clubhouse, redesigned by Architect, Peter Stromberg and Interior Designer, Rod Mickley; a new state-of-the-art Spa & Fitness facility overlooking the St. Lucie River; a 68-slip Marina; a state-of-the-art Learning Center designed to the specifications of Floridian’s own, Butch Harmon, and a completely reconstructed golf course designed by world renowned Tom Fazio.

Additionally, members have access to on-site guest cottages, spa, fitness, pool and private helicopter service with two on-site helipads. And now members have the opportunity to build remarkable custom homes with water views of the St. Lucie River.

Wayne Huizenga Sells Floridian Golf & Yacht Club

Wayne Huizenga knows that for the right price, you must sell.

Bidding adieu to his Floridian Golf & Yacht Club, Mr. Blockbuster will have to take his lavish parties and private golfing elsewhere.  The property, which was bought in 1996 for $750,000, was sold last week for $25.6 million to a Texas entrepreneur.

Boasting two helicopter pads, a world-class clubhouse, guest cottages, deep water docks on the St. Lucie River and a 300-acre course designed by Gary Player, the club distributed memberships to the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Michael Douglas and Dolphins Vice President Bill Parcells. The new owner plans to build more cottages and a new fitness center for members.

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