Vale Kaye Pearson- developer of Ft Lauderdale International Boat Show

by Media Services on 7 Apr 2009 Dozens of friends and family members have gathered to remember Kaye Pearson, the entrepreneur and world-class fisherman who nurtured the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show from humble beginnings to what industry experts say is the largest boat show in the world.

'It's basically just a celebration of his life, just a party,' said Pearson's wife, Cheri.

Pearson died at his Fort LauderdaleIs your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here. home March 21 after a battle with cancer. He was 68.
A showman, philanthropist and champion of the local marine industry, Pearson founded the Show Management company in 1976 to operate the boat show, which then barely numbered 200 boats. By the time Pearson sold the company two years ago, the event was drawing 120,000 visitors, 1,700 boats and 1,400 exhibitors annually.

'He was the P.T. Barnum of boat shows,' said Frank Herhold, executive director of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida. 'He was an exciting guy to work with and his can-do attitude will be missed.'

Less visible but no less effective was Pearson's philanthropic side. In more than 20 years' involvement with the Boys & Girls Club, he helped raise some $25 million by organizing numerous charity events for the club, car dealer Rick Case said.

'Virtually anything I asked him to do that would help kids, he would do it,' Case said. 'Without Kaye Pearson's involvement in the Boys & Girls Club, we would have nowhere near the number of clubs we have today or service nowhere near the number of children we service today.'

But Cheri Pearson said her husband's legacy was best displayed in the affection which so many held for him.

'I didn't know he was that important to so many people,' she said. 'He just touched so many people's lives.'