R.W. "Bill" Recknor

1939 - 2022

July 30, 1939 - June 25, 2022 RW "Bill" Recknor, a business and community service leader in the South Bay for over 30 years, and a loving father and grandfather, passed away on June 25, 2022 in Torrance, California. The son of Myron William Recknor and Kathryn Allegra Recknor, Bill was born in Creston, Iowa on July 30, 1939. After graduating from John Muir High School in Pasadena, Bill earned a 4 year Kiwanis Club Scholarship to UC Berkeley. While at Cal he joined Beta Theta Pi and was elected President of his fraternity as a senior. After Bill earned his Masters' in Business from UC Berkeley in 1961, he began work at the Los Angeles Times in advertising. Bill then accepted the position of Promotions Manager at South Bay Center where he was recognized for Best Use of Color in Advertising (1969, 1972) as well as by the International Newspaper Advertising Association for one of the "Five Best Advertising Ideas" in the United States, and winning the Sweepstakes Award for the Best Shopping Center Promotion. Bill then became General Manager of the South Bay Center and worked there from 1968-1978 before taking the position of Vice President/Group Director for Forest City Enterprises (inclusive of VP/General Manager of the Galleria at South Bay) During this time, he earned his Graduate Real Estate Certificate at UCLA and was one of the first Californians to receive the ICSC ASPD Accreditation. After a brief time living in Cleveland he returned to Southern California to become Regional Leasing Director in charge of Forest City's West Coast Operations and then served as Vice President, Management Services for Hollis & Associates out of Larkspur, CA from 1993-1999 before retiring.
A South Bay fixture, Bill was actively involved in service. He was President Board of Directors for AMI South Bay Hospital, President of the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce, Redondo Beach "Man of the Year" (1979), Director of the South Bay YMCA, Director of Redondo Beach Round Table and Rotary, Campaign Chairman United Crusade, LA County District Attorney's Advisory Council, and AYSO and Pacific Soccer League Coach/State Champions (Palos Verdes Raiders).
Bill took pride in building relationships and cultivated an extensive network of close contacts both personally and professionally. He loved socializing and created many lasting friendships over the years through his work, community service and youth sports activities. His daughter, Hilary Allegra Recknor and his son Scott Wilmot Recknor were both active in youth, high school and college sports, and Bill was a frequent presence at their games. Bill loved walking all over 'the hill,' as well as bodysurfing at Rat Beach. He had a love of reading, particularly anything related to history and the Civil War, and was renowned in his social and family circles for having an uncanny memory and great sense of humor. In addition to Hilary and Scott (Carolyn), Bill is survived by his sister Ann of Fairfax, VA, two stepdaughters Nicolette Cautero (John Stodder) and Penelope Cautero, and two granddaughters, Allegra Recknor and Chloe Recknor.
Donations in remembrance can be made in memory of RW 'Bill' Recknor to Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles. marinemammalcare.org. Memorial services will be private.