(LA Times) Hoyt S. Pardee dies at 91; leading Southern California home builder
Matthew Kruk
latimes.com
OBITUARY
Hoyt S. Pardee dies at 91; leading Southern California home builder
He and his two brothers had built more than 30,000 homes as of 1985,
when they were among the first builders inducted into a statewide hall
of fame sponsored by the California Building Industry Assn.
By Valerie J. Nelson
5:52 PM PST, November 24, 2009
Hoyt S. Pardee, who with his two brothers transformed a family
construction company into a leading Southern California home builder,
died of pancreatic cancer Monday at his home in Los Angeles, his family
announced. He was 91.
The brothers and their company, Pardee Construction, had built more than
30,000 homes by 1985, when they were among the first builders inducted
into a statewide hall of fame sponsored by the California Building
Industry Assn.
Formed in 1946 in Los Angeles, the company became one of the more
prolific home builders in the region after World War II, constructing
housing tracts around Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas.
The company, now known as Pardee Homes, remains a prominent home
builder.
Hoyt Swift Pardee was born May 15, 1918, in Hollywood and earned a
bachelor's degree in business and accounting at UCLA in 1941.
When UCLA built a new baseball stadium in 1981, Pardee paid for it and
asked that it be named in honor of Jackie Robinson, the sports great who
was his UCLA classmate.
The beginnings of Pardee Construction can be traced to 1921, when
entertainer Will Rogers hired Hoyt's father, George Pardee, who ran a
small home construction business.
After Hoyt returned from serving in the Navy during World War II, he and
his older brother, George Jr., formed Pardee Construction with their
father.
Because the brothers did not want to outvote their father, they decided
that all business decisions had to be unanimous. They continued to
follow that policy after their younger brother, J. Douglas, joined the
venture in 1948 and their father died in 1952.
The company's first subdivision was built in the 1950s in Pacific
Palisades, where Pardee raised three sons with his wife, Carol, whom he
married in 1942. She died in 1989.
In 1969, Pardee Construction was acquired by Weyerhaeuser Co., a forest
products company. Hoyt stayed with the business until 1986.
With his sons, he then founded Pardee Tree Nursery, a wholesale
enterprise on 300 acres in Oceanside. He remained active in the business
until about two months ago.
An Eagle Scout, Pardee was a major supporter of the Boy Scouts of
America and many other organizations. A yacht he owned and often sailed
with his brothers was donated to a Scouting program.
"He was the most fabulous man you would ever want to know," said Kris
Graves, a friend and associate. "He was from the old days, when your
word was gold."
In addition to his second wife, Viorica, whom he married in 1992, Hoyt
is survived by his sons, David, Douglas and Wesley; his brother J.
Douglas; and four grandchildren. His brother George Jr. died in 2004.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Matthew's
Parish Church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests donating to the Salk Institute
for Pancreatic Cancer Research, P.O. Box 85800, San Diego, CA 92186.
Copyright � 2009, The Los Angeles Times