Lawrence Douglas Rose
May 30, 1920 – April 21, 2011
Larry was born in San Francisco and grew up in Beverly Hills where he graduated from high school, a four year letterman in swimming and active in the Drama Club, playing opposite Betty White in Pride and Prejudice, and appearing as her “first leading man” years later on TV’s “This is Your Life”. With the start of WWII, he enrolled in the Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York, where he was a Regimental Sub Commander. Tours of duty included the Pacific, Atlantic, North Sea and English Channel. Later he was also in the Naval Reserve. After the war he moved to Carmel, becoming the elected City Clerk and later, briefly, Editor of the Carmel Pine Cone, before the family moved to newly incorporated Tiburon where he was hired as first City Manager. After several years they then relocated when he was hired as City Manager of Laguna Beach. He was passionate about a “sense of place”, a unique community identity and high quality of life for residents of cities he managed. Municipal projects he championed were many, such as the Sand Castle contest in Carmel, the downtown development of Tiburon, and initial planning of Main Beach Park in Laguna Beach. In l975 he accepted the job of City Manager of Mercer Island, serving until his retirement in 1987. With support of City Councils, Larry was instrumental in establishing many projects on the island, including the original Community Center at Mercerview, the Arts Council, the Marine Patrol, Centennial Park and the first computer system, as well as making Youth and Family Services a city government department. He instigated and managed the relocation of Farmers Insurance campus to the town center in exchange for the city obtaining the present City Hall building and surrounding land, now containing maintenance yard facilities, all without capital cost to the city. Subsequent to retirement, Larry worked as Interim City Manager in North Bend and Newcastle. Larry’s interests were many. He and his wife, Billie, traveled extensively, also spending many winter months in San Diego. He loved gardening, writing, photography, reading, cooking, lively discussions, and listening to classical music, and spent much time in such activities. His greatest joy was in time spent with Billie and family. He was deeply loved and will be sorely missed. He is survived by his loving wife, Billie, and by daughters, Cynthia (George) Schoonmaker, Marilyn (Ed) Kolenski and Laurie Rose, and by sons, Chris (Thelma) Rose and Wade (Madalene)Rose. He was predeceased by son, Stephen Penn Rose. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren (a seventh due in July). Honoring his request, there will not be a formal memorial service. A private family memorial celebration will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mercer Island Community Fund or the American Cancer Society.
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