Island IconsBy Carol Pastor, Coronado Historical Association Volunteer
LIONEL ROWE
Not often does one meet a person who is always upbeat, smiling, ready to come up with a quick joke. That best describes Lionel Rowe, definitely one of our village icons. This is what we know about his past 89 years. Lionel is actually a native San Diegan, born at Mercy Hospital in 1932. His school years were spent back on the east coast where he graduated from high school from Storm King School north of West Point in New York. He then attended college at the University of Virginia. When it came time to take a job after college he joined the Budd Co. in Philadelphia. Part of their industry was manufacturing railroad cars. This probably explains his lifelong love of model trains. He later returned to San Diego going into real estate in Imperial Beach with the Kinsella Warren company until he decided to go out on his own and form his own company. He subsequently became a silent partner in the Coronado firm of First World Travel. In talking about the “old days,” Lionel remembers selling newspapers at the Landing at the time of the Japanese surrender in 1945. That was one of many interesting stories he shared. He told of the time when
Lionel posing for high school graduation photos. Courtesy Lionel Rowe
people had horses on the island and there
was a movie house and his first movie there
her assistant, helping her set up when she
was a stable to rent horses near the gate to
was “How Green Was My Valley.” (Can any
had a showing. His home is a gallery of
North Island. Then there was his experience
of you remember that?)
Sara Rowe’s creations.
with friends, of course, such as holding
Lionel later married Sara Graves Tider-
Lionel has four grandchildren. Lionel’s
onto the rear of one of Coronado’s trains on
man Rowe in 1983, a local artist whose
love of tennis transferred over onto his twin
their route through town. They could grab
work was not only on display locally but
grandsons who both played on the Coro-
the back end and ride a few blocks. That
also graced the cover of the Kennedy Book,
nado High School team, with one of them
was mischief in the good old days. He re-
our local telephone book. She did some
going on to play collegiately. He certainly
members when the Lamb’s Players Theatre
beautiful watercolor scenes. Lionel became
encouraged them, being an avid player
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