RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT By Marianne Zak Al Goldstein of Heath Land Lane has lived in Lake Ashton for twelve years. It is the longest he has ever lived in one location. Born in Broward County, he is a proud seventh generation Floridian on his maternal side and a proud Southerner. Al became an enigma at fourteen when he ventured into Cuba on a ferry, bi-monthly, to earn spending money by picking up a package for a gentleman from his neighborhood who covered all of Al's expenses. His deliveries preceded Amazon! Al joined the Naval Air Reserve at sixteen and served one weekend a month in Jacksonville, Florida. After graduation from high school, he sacrificed two baseball scholarships to become active-duty in the United States Marine Corp. He went to Parris Island Boot Camp and served thirteen years with three deployments to Vietnam on active duty. Uncle Sam recruited Al to "come out of uniform" and serve esoterically for our government. This was how Al became an expert on "lingerie" as a "Lingerie Sales Manager" and a "registered corsetiere". His service took him to sixty-eight countries where he purchased materials and machinery from 1974 through 1989 and did his work. In 1995 Uncle Sam called Al back to work. Al and his understanding wife, Shirley, raised their blended family of four children in Georgia. His work also took them to reside in Panama, Central South America. In 2014 Al and Shirley settled in Lake Ashton. They had both converted to Christianity. When Shirley, Als' beloved wife of thirty-four years died in 2023, she had a celebration of life at High Point Church. Al's son, Mitch, has recently moved in with Al and enjoys his father's company. Al was a City Commissioner in Lake Wales, President of the LA Republican Club, Vice Chair of the Republican Executive Committee for six years and a delegate at the Republican Convention in 2016. He was invited to attend President Trump's 13 Inauguration on January 20, 2025 where he sat five rows behind the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He met Brigadier General Roger C. Smith and spoke to another Marine, Vice President JD Vance. To honor his late wife, Shirley, "who supported me for the years in and out of uniform and of course for the Marine Corps", Al is hosting a Birthday Celebration on November 10, 2025 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States Marines Corps here at Charm City. Al Goldstein may be an enigma, but he is a loyal patriot and Marine through and through. WE REMEMBER ... The Media Center was dedicated in memory of Murray Zacharia in October 2019, upon his passing in September 2019. Murray created the Blue Man Group who still play on a weekly basis from the blue tees. With the help of Linda and Murray's son Seth, Murray is celebrated during an Annual Memorial Golf Tournament in his honor. Since the dedication of the Media Center in Murray's honor, a picture of Murray's hole-in-one at Lake Ashton, a picture is of his family; Linda Zacharia (wife), Shellie (daughter), Marcie (daughter), and Seth (son) and a 3rd picture of Murray on a cruise with Lake Ashton friends have been added. Murray was the epitome of a dedicated steward of the Lake Ashton Community. He was on every board and committee that would have him and truly helped mold Lake Ashton into the amazing community that it is. There wasn't a time that he could be found in the Clubhouse without a newspaper, book, or notebook in his hand. He was at every meeting that was held at Lake Ashton, even when he wasn't on one of the boards. He was one of few people that loved a good meeting. He was an information man with a wealth of knowledge that he was willing to share with anyone and his heart was dedicated to Lake Ashton. He is missed everyday by those that had the pleasure of knowing him. When you are in the Clubhouse Media Center next take a second to remember a resident that was dedicated to Lake Ashton being "Simply the Best.”
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