Self-Storage Operator Personal Mini Storage of Florida Mourns Passing of Cofounder Ronald Shader

Ronald Shader, cofounder of self-storage brand Personal Mini Storage of Florida, died on Dec. 30. He was 91, according to a press release.

Shader and his late brother, Stan, founded the company in 1982. They built their first location on John Young Parkway in Orlando, and quickly expanded with new developments. Two years later, they formed Shader Brothers Corp.

In 2017, Shader’s company entered into an agreement with National Storage Affiliates Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust specializing in self-storage, to become a participating regional operator. Today, Personal Mini operates 42 facilities in 20 cities.

Ronald was born Oct. 9, 1932, in Orlando and was a lifelong resident of Central Florida. He’s survived by his wife, Mardi Shader; son, Ben Shader; daughter, Kimberly Hurst; and sister, Edythe Chortkoff.

In addition to being a self-storage pioneer, Ronald was known for his philanthropy, the release stated. He volunteered his time and offered monetary contributions to various charities.

“Uncle Ron was more than an uncle and a boss to me. He was a role model whose kindness and humility touched every aspect of our business,” said Laurie Shader Smith, vice president of Personal Mini. “His presence in our daily lives will be deeply missed, but his teachings and values will continue to guide us.”

“Ron's vision was the foundation upon which we built Personal Mini Storage. His legacy of compassion and integrity remains the cornerstone of our mission,” added Personal Mini President Marc Smith.

Source: Heritage Florida Jewish News, Ronald Shader