Samuel Jaquinta

Samuel Jaquinta (January 1, 1896 – April 22, 1981) was a noted Fort Lauderdale entrepreneur who opened the first open-air fruit market in Southern Florida. The Barnett Bank building carries a plaque commemorating his contributions to the Lauderdale area; the "Miami Herald" ran a half page tribute on his life.
Early years.
Born Salvatore (Sam) Iaquinta, in Cosenza Provence, in southern Italy, in the town of San Giovanni in Fiore. He emigrated to the U.S.A. aboard the in 1910, registering at Ellis Island at age fourteen. After living with his brother Franceso and working the coal mines, in Boomer, West Virginia, Sam settled in Des Moines, Iowa. There, he married his wife, Mary Theresa Longo of Detroit, Michigan. Sam and Mary had three children: John Sunday, Joseph Longo, and Janet Marie. Sam and his family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1939.
Name change.
According to family lore, Salvatore Iaquinta became Samuel Jaquinta in Fort Lauderdale, due to a mix-up with a local contractor. Iaquinta had written his last name on a piece of paper to be painted across the plate glass window of his new business. The painter misread his writing, assuming the letter "I" was a "J". The name stuck.
Entrepreneurism.
Jaquinta opened his fresh fruit market at the northeast corner of Broward Boulevard (State Road 842) and Andrews Avenue; in what would become downtown Fort Lauderdale. Known as the "TroMar Open-Air Market," his business provided locally grown fruits and vegetables to the growing populace. In the 1970s, Jaquinta sold the site of his open-air fruit market to Barnett Bank. Four skyscrapers now occupy the site of his market in downtown Fort Lauderdale. A small bronze plaque, on the side of one of the bank buildings, commemorates Jaquinta's contributions to the City of Fort Lauderdale.
Jaquinta was a charter member, deacon, and elder of Bethany Presbyterian Church. He also served as a member of the Gideon Society.
Death and memorials.
Sam Jaquinta died on Wednesday, April 22, 1981 at Broward General Medical Center. The "Miami Herald" ran his obituary, which included a tribute for his contribution to the development of downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Jaquinta's descendants continue to make their home in Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts and West Virginia.