Real estate legend Gordon Stromer dies ‘Son of a gun' built business selling ag land May 07, 2009 12:05:00 AM By Leticia Gutierrez/Appeal-Democrat
Well-known Realtor Gordon Stromer, 88, part of a disappearing fraternity of ranch brokers in Northern California, died Tuesday at Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville. When he gets to heaven, "They'll look him over a bit and he'll talk them into letting him in right away," said Jack Williams of Lodi, a longtime friendly competitor in the agriculture land business, about the hard-working land salesman. "He was one of the top people in the business when it came to ranches and farms. There will never be another Gordon Stromer." Stromer, born in Canada, leaves his wife of 32 years, Won Yo, four children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Services will be held Saturday at Ullrey Memorial Chapel in Yuba City.
Stromer started in real estate in 1947 with a ground-floor office in the Hotel Marysville after working in a gold mine, selling cars and setting up a lime and gypsum business. He moved the business, Stromer Realty Company of California, to Yuba City in the late 1960s, concentrating on agricultural land and working until a few years ago. "He loved his business and the people that he worked with," said son Sean Stromer of Yuba City. "When I was a little kid I remember riding in cars with him. I thought it was fun to ride around in the dirt, at ranches. I saw my dad was really happy with this." Sean Stromer has been a Realtor at the office since 2001.
Over the years, Stromer sold property worth millions — rice land and duck club areas to people who included Silicon Valley millionaires, Hollywood stars such as Robert Stack, golfer Johnny Miller and financial investor Charles Schwab as well as residents in Yuba, Sutter, Colusa and Butte counties. "He knew basically everybody in the area," said Jaswant Bains of Yuba City, Stromer's former business partner of 25 years. And he sold almost everyone in the Bains family a ranch, added Buzz Gill, Bains' nephew and a Realtor in the Stromer office, with a laugh. Stromer was always very high energy, said current business partner Patrick Laughlin of Yuba City. Though real estate has its ups and downs, he said, Stromer remained motivated.
Just traveling with Stromer was an experience, said Doug McGeoghegan, a broker at Stromer Realty. The two had worked together since 2004 but knew each other for 20 years. "Many times when Gordon and I would jump in the car, and head north to Tehama County, just (while) driving along, Gordon would regale me by pointing east and west out the truck window, (and saying) how many times he had bought or sold a piece of property for a client. It would make you dizzy." Stromer was a "son of a gun," said Williams, 96, founder of Jack Williams Ranches in Stockton. The two met soon after Stromer entered the ag land business.
"He knew everybody in the countryside. If not, he would figure out how to get to know them," Williams said. "(And) if he didn't have what you wanted, he'd sure find it for you."
