LIVING HISTORY
54
Few in history have lived to be 106 years old with
a crystal clear memory, let alone being able to
write about and illustrate memories from a century
before. Curt Whiticar, the founder of Whiticar
Boat Works, was one of the lucky ones. The patriarch
of a family that has ruled the marine industry in Martin
County, Whiticar died on March 7 of natural causes.
Born in 1911 during the Taft administration, his life
WHITICAR FAMILY
spanned 19 presidents and two world wars. As a Martin
County resident since 1917, he easily recalled in an interview
with Indian River Magazine just before his death,
the days when the Treasure Coast was a remote place
that few had yet discovered. He remembered when the
Lyric Theatre first opened in 1926 playing silent films;
when Florida Gov. John Martin came to Stuart to celebrate
the newly formed Martin County named for him;
TREASURE COAST BOATING
BOATLOAD of
MEMORIES
Late centenarian left lasting mark
on Treasure Coast marine industry
>>
Longtime Martin County resident Curt Whiticar, founder of Whiticar Boat Works, and his son, John, pose with the Patsea V in 1986.
BY DONNA CRARY