3944 Gordon Drive (Naples, Florida)

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3944 Gordon Drive goo.gl/maps/kC1f0

Owner History
- 1988 - Captain's Landings Inc. AKA John Kaptyn family (Canadian developer) $1.25 million
- 1983 - James Arthur Donnelly $532,000

Before 1983, there was common ownership of 3944 (Gulf side) and 3939 (Champney Bay side) Gordon Drive

- ?? Harlowe E. Bowes

- 1931 - E.W. Crayton

Details

John Kaptyn was a Canadian developer who passed away in 2007. His estate was estimated to be worth $75 million and made headlines in local papers due to litigation issues.

www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/legal-battle-for-...

www.thestar.com/news/crime/2011/02/12/family_feud_a_tes...

bit.ly/1eUF8Qw

The Florida Beach House
digital.ontarioreports.ca/ontarioreports/20101126?pg=14...

John Kaptyn, who left school after the third grade to help support his family led a lucrative life in Canada after emigrating from Holland in 1954 working odd jobs upon arrival, from farm hand to lumberjack. He owned and operated numerous businesses, from gas stations/towing companies to car dealerships, hotels and restaurants. Upon moving to Toronto in 1968, John began dabbling in real estate and experienced immense success in Canada and in Florida.
www.msh.on.ca/sites/default/files/Kaptyn_Family.pdf‎

In addition to his home in Naples at 3944 Gordon Drive, he had a home in a suburb of Toronto goo.gl/maps/YYp7g on the same street as fellow Canadian, Larry Needler, who also had a house at 3054 Gordon. Kaptyn's wife, Doreen, relocated in 2007 to the Windstar golf community in East Naples goo.gl/maps/0PQav . The property at 3944 is still owned by members of John Kaptyn's family.

John Kaptyn's obituary
www.obitsforlife.com/obituary/111910/Kaptyn-John-Jocobe...

Philanthropy

a couple of the many examples of Kaptyn's charitable gifts in Naples and up in Canada
www.msh.on.ca/sites/default/files/Kaptyn_Family.pdf‎
www.nchmd.org/doclib.aspx?id=10553‎

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James Arthur Donnelly - 1983 $532,000

Donnelly and his wife Joan were from St. Louis and purchased 3944 from Jeanne K. Bowes in 1983. Donnelly, in his fifties, passed away a year later in 1984, his wife Joan eventually sold the Gordon Drive property in 1988 and relocated to Wyndemere , a Naples area golf community where she maintained a home until 2013 goo.gl/maps/d1lmH .

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Harlowe Elliott Bowes owned 3901+3900 and 3939+3944

Harlowe E. Bowes and Jeanne K. Bowes owned this group of four properties initially living at 3901 and subsequently building the houses at 3939 and 3944 Gordon Drive in the early 1970's. They sold 3901 and the vacant 3900 in the mid-seventies to Naples' developer Victor Erday and also sold 3939 for $160,000 in 1976 to May Zinkla Morton. The Bowes moved into the house they built at 3944 goo.gl/maps/4lDcp - as part of the purchase & sale arrangement with May Morton she leased back a boat dock at 3939 for a period of ten years.

Bowes was partner at Sidley & Austin in Chicago, which he joined in 1942; his specialty was in corporate law with a focus on public offerings and corporate securities. He also handled the affairs of Lyle Spencer and was president of the Spencer foundation. Bowes passed away in 1981 and his wife Jeanne sold 3944 in 1983.

References
www.spencer.org
goo.gl/fXB08V

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E.W "Ed" Crayton 1931 - 3900+3901; 3939+3944 and many adjacent properties

Crayton who at one time owned the land where the Moorings neighborhood is located purchased a large tract of land that included 3944 back in 1931 from James M. Raleigh.

"In the early part of the century, he ran Naples. Crayton was a founder of the Naples Improvement Co., which bought out the Haldeman interests in 1914. The former Ohio real estate executive was a strict businessman who was involved with all development decisions in Naples. He served as chairman and president of the Town Council from 1923 until his death in 1938"

History of Naples (PDF file)
homes.ottcommunications.com/~dsonder/On%20The%20Go/NAPL...

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James M Raleigh
?
Saint Augustine, Florida (d. 1927)