A Tribute To Stan Benjamin
With profound sadness we wish to advise our Peace and Plenty friends of the passing of owner Stanley Solomon Benjamin. Mr. B. passed away on January 25, 2009 at the grand old age of 97. He died at the North Broward Hospital in Pompano, Florida. A lovely Memorial Service was held in Deerfield Beach, Florida where many of Stan's family members, friends and colleagues gathered to remember him with personal stories and prayers.
A Memorial Service was also held in Gates Mills, Ohio, where the Benjamin family’s roots are and where Mr. B. had many connections to community, business, friends and family. To say that he was admired by many would be an understatement.
As it was Stan's desire to be cremated, Barry Benjamin brought a portion of Mr. B's ashes to Exuma. A memorial service was held on March 6, 2009 at the Club drawing friends, business associates, government officials and hotel staff. Barry opened the program with a tribute to his father. Father Conliff gave the invocation, and Clayton Dean, P&P employee of seventeen years represented the employees.
Some of the farewell remarks were made by the Honorable George Smith, past Member of Parliament; Danny Strachan, Commodore of the National Family Island Regatta; Charity Armbrister, representing the Ministry of Tourism; Chris Kettel, Director of the Exuma Resource Center; Charles Pflueger, General Manager of P&P and Mr. Ivan Ferguson, Administrator for Exuma.
During Stan's forty years in the Bahamas, he received the "Bahamas Hotelier of the Year" award, and also received the Ministry of Tourism's "Sustainable Tourism Award." Peace & Plenty was the first resort in Exuma to install a solar water heating system.
To honor Mr. B.'s wishes, Barry walked to the end of the dock and scattered his ashes in Elizabeth Harbor, where he will rest forever in the place he loved best in the world. R.I.P. Mr. B.!
Stan first visited Exuma with his wife, Jeanne and their sons in November, 1969. They stayed at the Club Peace & Plenty as it was then owned by fellow Clevelanders, Armand Angelone and Paul Swetland. That visit started a 40 -year love affair with Exuma, the Bahamas and its people. Soon after, Stan purchased the Club. The story he always told was that he bought the P&P for Mrs. Benjamin for Valentine's Day!
During his years in Exuma, Stan bought the Club Peace & Plenty, built the Crows Nest Bar and Restaurant with Charles Pflueger, built the Peace & Plenty Beach Inn and the Peace & Plenty Bonefish Lodge (with Charles Pflueger and Bob Hyde). In addition, he built Tropical Gardens Rental Cottages outside of George Town for visiting construction workers and others who were looking for a lovely, quiet spot to live. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin also bought a native hilltop home in Jolly Hall which they renovated to accommodate the family. The view from their home is one of the most beautiful in Exuma, overlooking the Harbor and Goat Cay. Stan was definitely King of the Hill!
Mr. Benjamin ran the hotel well into his 90's and his enthusiasm never wavered. Before he became ill, Stan still wanted to explore the southern Bahamas for new opportunities. He was a pioneer even in his 9th decade and had no plans to slow down.
Stan, in his love for Exuma, started the Exuma Foundation primarily as a resource center for teachers. Stan donated 6 acres of land he had previously purchased in Hooper's Bay to build the Resource Center. He then set about creating a U.S. based foundation through which donations could be made and which primarily promoted education and environmental awareness on the island. This non-profit organization has become the island's premier educational facility offering a wide variety of courses and opportunities for Bahamian youth and adults who want to further their education. 
The Foundation eventually established the first offshore campus of the College of the Bahamas and the ability to offer full college degrees. Since its inception, the Exuma Foundation has been able to raise over 2 million dollars in donations to carry on with the educational work and social outreach programs that have offered so much to Bahamians who want to further their education and learn new skills.
As many of you may know, Stan and Jeanne Benjamin were world travelers. Between the two of them, they had been around the world several times, but always returned to Exuma claiming that there was no body of water anywhere else in the world as beautiful as the waters of the Bahamas and especially Exuma.
Stan's legacy will live on in the lives of those he has touched, the families he has helped, and for being the Peace & Plenty's champion, protector, and our leader for many wonderful years.
We would like to end this tribute with Stan's favorite toast: L' Chaim, To Life!
Other News...
Charlie Pflueger, long time General Manager of the Peace and Plenty Properties has written his autobiography and has plans to publish the book within the next few months. The working title is 'Island Fever' (which most of you can relate to) and will be available through Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
For those interested, please email Charlie at cpp42@hotmail.com at your convenience, for particulars on release date and purchase information when they become available.
Stan Benjamin, Jack Nicklaus, Charlie Pflueger
Doralee Roach, the long time Queen of Stocking Island, retired in the summer of 2008. In her many years as the official hostess of "Hamburger Beach" she touched more lives than we can count. Visitors from all over the world considered her cheeseburgers and conch burgers "to die for." 
Doralee will be sorely missed, but the magic of Stocking Island lives on and it is rumored that Dora makes a guest appearance every now and then to lend her special touch to boater's barbecues and special events.
Currently, Nicole Demeritte, a P&P employee, has replaced a retired Doralee, with her husband Alvin driving the ferry, and keeping the beach and buildings in pristine condition. Its tough replacing Dora, the undisputed cheeseburger Queen, but if anyone can do it, it's Nicole! We even offer a dance/barbecue on some evenings.
Of course Stocking Island is the perfect place for a wedding ceremony. The Club recently hosted a family wedding which was a huge success. We welcome the opportunity to help plan your special day or any occasion you would like to celebrate in Paradise!
On April 3, 2009, The Ministry of Labor held a black tie award dinner to present the "Distinguished Employee Awards". Recognition Plaques were presented to retired Doralee Roach and to Renae Lawrence, front office, by Club Manager Neville Lee Choy to honor them for their many years of dedication and service to the Club Peace & Plenty.
In early May, 2009, the Peace & Plenty installed the Bahamian Historical Society's Recognition Plaque, to honor the Club's past 50 years. We are the only hotel on the island that can boast that our bar, once a sponge warehouse, has as its centerpiece, a 200 year old stone hearth. The P&P has traditionally been the hub of activity for the National Family Island Regatta, the premier sailing event that has taken place in Elizabeth Harbor for the past five decades and is well deserving of its place in history.
Standing with the plaque is Manager, Neville Lee Choy, Barry Benjamin, Owner, and Charlie Pflueger, General Manager. We are honored to hold this position in the history of Exuma.
The 56th Annual Family Island Regatta was held in beautiful Elizabeth Harbor this past April. The winds were high and made the racing even more exciting than usual. TIDA WAVE, Exuma's own Class A boat, took first prize once again. Although Captain Rolly Gray is no longer with us, TIDA WAVE continues to sail as if he were still at the helm. Congratulations to all the winners!
In January of next year (29, 30, 31st) an Exuma Bahamian Food Festival will be held. The festival will feature native cooking around the various restaurants on the island. Locally grown produce and fresh sea food will be featured throughout the day. The folks involved in agriculture would like to see a renewed interest among the youth of the Bahamas to bring farming back into their lives. The PnP would like to help you make this a special time by giving you a 5% discount (in addition to any other discount) on your room if your stay includes one of the nights of the Food Festival. Pick up a copy of our cookbook, Great Exuma, Great Food, or a colorful P&P map t-shirt at the front desk to remember us by or to bring home to your family and friends!
For a small fee you will be able to learn some Bahamian cooking techniques to impress your friends and families back home. There will also be a Bahamian Chef cooking contest which should be a fun and colorful event. Bring your recipes to swap with others and definitely bring your appetite!
As you are reading this newsletter, the Four Seasons Resort, Emerald Bay Exuma, will have closed its doors for good. Most of its 500 strong work force will be dismissed within 30 days of its May 26th closing. The resort is part of a 500 acre development that included a marina, golf course and spa. The owner of the development, EBR Holdings Ltd., was unable to meet its debt obligations and it was placed into receivership.
The Club of course will continue to offer peace, serenity, relaxation, comfortable rooms and a beautiful view of Elizabeth Harbor. Our staff is there to please you, greet you with a smile and either welcome you back or greet you for the first time as a member of the Peace & Plenty family.
Remember that the summer is a magnificent season in Exuma and a wonderful time to visit. The waters are warm and calm, the moonlight full and bright, and the stars too endless to count. Leave your worries behind. Share your old memories and create new ones. Each visit is a new adventure. The entire Peace & Plenty family sends their best wishes to everyone. We would love to see you down on the island!
