The Enduring Legacy Of The Santamaria Family
By Shannon Anastasio
Ever since the formative years of the western communities, the contributions of the Santamaria family in the areas of business development, public service and community engagement have been extraordinary.
Over the course of his career, family patriarch Jess R. Santamaria has played an instrumental role in shaping Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and the wider western communities, from building thousands of homes to advocating for openness in government. His enduring legacy reflects a deep commitment to community, ethical leadership and his dedication to improving the lives of those around him.
As he continues to be honored for his five decades of local leadership, Santamaria’s influence on the area will remain profound for generations to come. Throughout his life, Santamaria has used the guiding principles passed down to him by his parents.
“My father was a judge who always believed in equal justice for all, rich or poor,” he explained. “My mother was a deeply spiritual woman who sacrificed her entire life for her children, teaching us to love God and our neighbors. Their positive influence helped to make me the man I am today.”
Santamaria’s local journey began when he and his wife, Victoria, moved to Florida from Philadelphia in 1974. Armed with an MBA from the prestigious Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a degree in chemical engineering, Santamaria transitioned from his earlier corporate career at IBM to real estate development. Alongside his wife, he began a building career that led to more than 3,000 new homes in Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and The Acreage, focusing on providing high-quality, budget-friendly housing to local families.
The Santamarias expanded their portfolio to include shopping centers, such as the original Wellington Mall, as well as the area’s first hotel, the Royal Inn. Santamaria also built the first shopping center in Royal Palm Beach, the Royal Plaza, as well as other shopping areas.
However, Santamaria’s true impact is seen in his civic and philanthropic work. His leadership extended far beyond business ventures, as he dedicated countless hours to improving the community. Santamaria played a pivotal role in the founding of Palms West Hospital and chaired its board of trustees from 1986 to 1993. His ongoing involvement with Wellington Regional Medical Center as a member of its board of governors starting in 2002 further underscores his commitment to local healthcare.
Santamaria is also a staunch advocate for education. He co-founded organizations such as My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Scholarship Foundation, which has provided crucial support to local students. This initiative reflects his belief in the power of education to change lives and a desire to create opportunities for young people in the community.
“I founded MBSK because I wanted to reward kids not just for academic achievement, but for having the core values of honesty, generosity, kindness and a sincere desire to help others,” Santamaria said. “We need to inspire our youth to be good people and care for their fellow man. Our children are our most valuable assets, and our future depends on them.”
He also co-founded My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Charitable Trust in order to assist needy families in Palm Beach County, and especially in the Glades. Over the past 20 years, Santamaria and the charitable trust, in partnership with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, have helped almost 2,000 disadvantaged Glades-area families purchase necessities like food and clothing during the Christmas season. “Our mission statement is that ‘the strong and the fortunate have a social obligation to protect and assist the weak and less fortunate amongst us until they are able to help themselves,’” Santamaria explained.
Santamaria’s public service career culminated in his eight-year tenure representing all of the western communities and the Glades on the Palm Beach County Commission. His time as a commissioner was marked by his tireless efforts to ensure openness, honesty and ethical governance.
During his years with the county, Santamaria is most proud of fighting for, demanding and expecting more honesty in government.
“Palm Beach County had been labeled ‘Corruption County’ when I began my first term as county commissioner,” he recalled. “I was the strongest advocate for the ethics commission and the creation of the Office of the Inspector General to fight against government abuse and waste, and I was the prime witness testifying before the grand jury on the subject. As a private citizen, I was involved in seven lawsuits against governmental abuse of power, winning all seven. I’ve also always fought for protection of the environment and against overdevelopment.”
Santamaria’s influence extended to numerous other civic efforts, including his involvement with the Palms West Chamber of Commerce, now the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, which he chaired in 2000. He was also a founding member of the Crestwood Performing Arts League and co-founded the Citizens for Open Government.
His key focus in the community has been to lobby for sustainable and responsible growth, seeking to make the western communities very different from where he spent his younger years.
“I grew up in Manila, Philippines, one of the largest cities in the world; and I also lived in Philadelphia, another huge city with crime and congestion problems,” Santamaria recalled. “I moved to Royal Palm Beach because it’s where I envisioned raising my family — a peaceful, family-oriented, small town. Growth is inevitable, but it’s important that it be thoughtfully planned, so that we don’t lose the quality of life that made it the place where we wanted to live when we came here.”
His legacy of service also includes his commitment to protecting Palm Beach County’s unique character. Santamaria was a vocal advocate against the potential “Browardization” of the county, speaking out against efforts to merge with Miami-Dade and Broward counties for regional planning. He believed that such moves could compromise the county’s environmental protection and ability to control growth.
As a public servant, Santamaria’s approach has always been guided by a sense of integrity and a desire to make the community a better place for all. He has been honored with awards numerous times from a wide variety of organizations. He has also received resolutions from the villages of Wellington and Royal Palm Beach in recognition of his lasting contributions to the region.
At the heart of Santamaria’s life is his family. Jess and his wife Victoria have raised a close-knit family, including their son, Chris Santamaria, and daughter, Michelle Santamaria, who are both attorneys and work with Jess and Victoria in managing family-owned properties. Their son Vincent, married to wife Lisa, works in the Orlando area as a systems analyst for one of the area hospital chains. The family legacy continues through their three beloved grandchildren, Elle, Max and Sophia. Santamaria’s love and support of his family remain a constant source of inspiration, fueling his passion for creating a better future for the generations to come.
At the core of Jess Santamaria’s work is his belief in the power of service and the importance of community. Whether through his business ventures, his role as a public servant or his philanthropic efforts, Santamaria has been a tireless advocate for the people of Palm Beach County.
“People in government must never forget that they are public servants,” he said. “You are elected to serve the people, not your own political aspirations. Honest government should be the foundation to every democracy; and honest government goes hand in hand with maintaining public trust. Roosevelt said that when there’s honest government and public trust, then prosperity, quality of life and peace are achievable. As a child, I was taught that ‘evil succeeds when good men do nothing,’ and ‘if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.’ I’ve followed those principles my entire life.”
