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Richard Hauser, Pioneer Developer, Passes Peacefully

Surrounded by family at his Manhattan home, Richard Hauser passed away at the end of June 2007—he was nearly 80.

Richard Hauser

Richard initially came to Anguilla in 1974 hoping to find a spot of land on which to build a hotel—even though he had neither hotel nor development experience…a true pioneer. He and his wife (Carol) first stayed at Rendezvous Bay Hotel where they met Jerry Gumbs who helped them locate land he liked. He then worked with Billy Herbert to put together the legal paperwork needed to purchase the land and got the approval of Ronald Webster and his Government to proceed with his vision.

When construction began at Cinnamon Reef in 1977, it was the island’s first modern foreign owned tourism development project—predating all the hotels now in operation on island. At that time, Richard Hauser was the largest private employer on island—two or three old blue dump trucks picked up fifty or sixty men around the island to bring them to Little Harbour to work during an era when it made more sense to straighten used nails than to buy new ones… as new nails were not only expensive but very hard to find. Making his own block, crushing his own stone, mining his own sand, importing Anguilla’s first concrete batching truck, building Anguilla’s first concrete batching plant (that consisted of a wooden ramp on which men stood to shovel mix into the truck below using car lights to see in the dark) are all part of his pioneering legacy.

Through strength of character, good will and good humor, Richard was finally able to open Cinnamon Reef Hotel after approximately five years of construction—holding a gala brunch in the restaurant by the sea to celebrate the completion of that restaurant along with 14 villas, large fresh water pool, two tennis courts and various support and infrastructure buildings… all of which were personally financed, all of which were built prior to the modern era of “preconstruction sales”.

Cinnamon Reef Hotel was personally managed by Richard and Carol from the mid nineties until the property was sold in 2001. Sadly, within a short time after the hotel was sold it was closed…testimony to the devotion of both Richard and his wife to the project and to the island. All in all, Richard devoted approximately 25 years to Cinnamon Reef and Anguilla—nearly half of his adult life.

To all of those many Anguillians and residents who have asked how my father was doing since he left island, to all of those who have said how much they liked knowing him and being with him, to all of those who laughed at his ability to turn a phase and appreciated his humor and style, we ask you to join us (his family) in enjoying the many memories he left behind—we are all grateful.
- Contributed

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