Zeke grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and was educated at the Holderness School in Plymouth, New Hampshire and graduated with a BA in history from Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Annual vacations to Boca Grande began at the age of two. After college he spent a year in Aspen Colorado, where his passion for fly fishing was born. During a “visit” to Boca Grande he caught his first saltwater fish on a fly on his first cast, a 125 pound Tarpon. We think the Tarpon caught him, making Boca Grande his home in 1992. Shortly thereafter Zeke got his real estate license and helped his father Peter open a real estate office on the Island. He also launched his guiding career, pursuing Tarpon on flies. In 1997, Zeke and his wife Tory opened Boca Grande Outfitters and grew the business into an island institution. They opened another shop in Tampa as well. Between his guiding and owning multiple retail stores, Zeke put his young real estate career on hold. His son and daughter were born and raised on Boca Grande. Zeke and Tory have spent time on various boards, including the Boca Grande Child Care Center and the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce. Zeke and Tory left the Island in 2007 to pursue a larger retail opportunity on Philadelphia’s Main Line, creating Out There Outfitters. After a successful 10 year run, Zeke and Tory sold the business and followed their hearts back to where it all began. Zeke remains an avid fly fisherman, fly tier, swimmer and runner.
