- February 3, 2026
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A land parcel alongside the Legacy Trail north of Ashton Road in Sarasota was donated in October to the Pines of Sarasota Foundation by longtime Sarasota resident Bob Waechter, the president of a commercial management company and a Sarasota County political influencer.
The 2.2-acre gift was made in memory of Waechter’s wife, Jane Cavanagh Waechter; his mother, Beatrice “Bea” Waechter Parker; and his mother-in-law, Mary Kertesz Cavanagh, according to a statement. All three were cared for at Pines of Sarasota.
“They were embraced in a caring environment and watched over by people who loved them,” Waechter says in a news announcement released by the Pines of Sarasota Foundation.
The foundation supports the Pines of Sarasota, a senior care community offering inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, skilled nursing, long-term care and assisted living services. The land donation will benefit Pines of Sarasota Foundation’s mission to help care for residents who have outlived their resources, the announcement says.
County property records show the transfer of the commercially zoned property from R & J Ashton Court LLC to the Pines took place Oct. 6. It’s listed for sale at $1.2 million, proceeds of which will benefit the Foundation, according to a spokesman.
“This generous gift is a legacy of love in action,” says Andrea Stephens, president of Pines of Sarasota Foundation, in a prepared statement. “It offers peace of mind to residents, joyful beginnings for children, and growth for caregivers. It’s a lasting reminder that true community is built on respect, compassion, and connection.”
Waechter has for more than 40 years run R&J Commercial Management in Sarasota. He served as chair of the Sarasota County Republican Party and as a member of several boards in the area. In 2013, he accepted a plea deal on a charge of identity theft connected to two fraudulent campaign contributions made under an assumed name.
The Pines of Sarasota is on a 25-acre campus north of downtown Sarasota. It has some 19 buildings, offering capacity for about 240 residents, and over 400 employees.
