Celebrating Pine Islanders: Russ Mattson
Russ Mattson described himself as a 43-years-long Pine Islander who loves this place and is not leaving. He is also a Realtor at Century 21, who after seeing photos of Sanibel years ago, knew he had to make his way to Southwest Florida, to eventually end up buying on Pine Island in 1981 and moving here in 1984.
“I’m not going anywhere, I’m going to die here,” Mattson said.
According to Mattson, he started a marine dealership and then one thing led to another where Mattson Marine moved to Pine Island and evolved into one of Southwest Florida’s premier boat dealerships consisting of 14 employees. He said he sold Mattson Marine after 30 years of hands-on leadership and has since supplied his knowledge and sales experience to the world of real estate.
He also holds a US GC 100-ton master captain’s license. He was a stockholder general manager and president of Pineland Holdings, owners of Pineland Marina, throughout the 1990s and knew most of Pine Island boaters on a first name basis.
Mattson said his greatest contribution to the island has been having his daughter, Samantha, who will eventually inherit his Pine Island land and raise her own kids out here.
In attempting to describe the island to someone who is unfamiliar with it, he listed the qualities, in which he found himself most enamored.
“It’s a very special place. We have little to no crime. It’s got six gulf access boat ramps and without a doubt, the best boating and fishing in Southwest Florida. It’s kind of a cross between rural and suburban — not a place for a control-freak HOA — urbanite. Not to mention that we have an award-winning elementary school,” Mattson said.
In addition to the many things for which Pine Island is well known, he added the Land Use Plan as one of his favorite island points, noting that high-rise buildings will not be in our future anytime soon, keeping the chain businesses at bay.
“We have no stoplights here and we don’t have any beach crowds here. It’s just a perfect place to live,” Mattson commented.
Among his greatest wishes for Pine Island, Mattson said, is keeping the chain businesses on the mainland. According to Mattson, in the past several years, the look of Pine Island has not changed all that much.
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