Home builder helped shape much of Central Florida

One of Central Florida’s most prolific builders, Lester Mandell, died Thursday at 96 — almost eight decades after he started his construction career building houses in Miami for 37 cents an hour.

His working-class roots belie a career that helped shape much of Central Florida. The co-founder of Greater Construction built more than 14,000 houses in communities rooted throughout Seminole, Orange, Lake and Osceola counties.

“Lester was a personal friend and one Central Florida’s pioneer homebuilders who did so much for his community,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. “He leaves a great legacy of integrity in business and loyalty and love for his family and friends.”

Together with his uncle Lester Zimmerman and John Lowndes, Mandell formed Sanlando Utilities in the early 1970s. He also owned and sold the land to the DeBartolo Development for Altamonte Mall. Part of the property ultimately transformed into the recreational centerpiece of Altamonte Springs — Crane’s Roost Park.

“We washed our horses and swam in what is now Crane’s Roost Lake,” said his son, Robert Mandell, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg 2011 to 2015.

In recent years, he was philanthropic and active, working out at the YMCA three times a week, family members said. About a month ago, Robert Mandell drove his father to an eye appointment in Kissimmee and, on the way, they toured Peppermill and other communities built by Greater Homes. After the doctor’s visit, they lunched at Fat Boy’s Bar-B-Q and discussed how the neighborhoods had matured.

“He remembered them all fondly and loved it,” said Mandell, former CEO and chairman of Greater Homes, who sold to Meritage Homes Corporation in 2005.

Mandell married Sonia Margolis in 1947. They had four children, sons Robert and Rick; daughters Alison Knapp and Aimee Lewis; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and extended family. His funeral will be live cast on OhevShalom.org at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.