Louis Cowley Burgener, founder of the San Diego community of Clairemont, and Kingpin among builders during the 1950's, died December 30, 1989.
Mr. Burgener was born in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, a settlement colonized by Mormon emigres. He was the son of Mathia Cowley and Nora Taylor; later adopted by Walter H. Burgener. He served a mission in Germany and Switzerland. While there, he studied percussion at the Frankfurt Conservatory of Music and theory and composition at Heidelberg. Mrs. Burgener later studied at the U. of U. affiliating with Sigma Chi Fraternity. He married Patricia Wrolton (deceased).
He began his business career as Realtor-developer in Evanston, Illinois. In the Chicago area, he was president of the North Shore Realty Board and served as president of the "40 Club." which was composed of the "40 Outstanding Young Men of Chicago."
Mr. Burgener moved to La Jolla, California in 1945, and in the following years developed projects in Lemon Grove, Poway, San Diego and La Jolla, California.
He and his partner, the late Carlos Tavares, conceived and developed Clairemont, California. They built and sold 14,000 homes during the decade-long housing shortage that began in 1950. Shortly before his death, Mrs. Burgener joined his son, Bruce, in the development of 110 homes in Rancho, California.
Mr. Burgener was active in the Building Contractor's Assoc. and was member of the Urban Land Institute. He was fond of the desert and built his second home and other projects in Borrego Springs. He was a member of the La Jolla Country Club and StoneRidge Country Cluby in Poway.
Survivors include his present wife, Renate; her son, Berndt Linke; his sons, William of Santa Cruz, Calif.; and Bruce of Sandiego, Calif.; daughter, Mrs. Lisa Garcia of Pasadena; three sisters, Mrs. John Rozsa; and Mrs. Mae Nielsen, both of San Diego; and Mrs. Vern McCarty of Rancho, California; one brother, Clair W. Burgener of Rancho Santa Fe; and six grandchildren.
After cremation, a memorial service was held January 12, at the El Camino Memorial Park Chapel, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, Calif.
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