HISTORY
The Vision & The Reality
These and other historical facts about Rotonda’s early years are outlined in Jack Alexander’s book, ‘Rotonda: The Vision & The Reality,’ copies are available for $10.00 at the Rotonda West Community Center, 646 Rotonda Cir, Rotonda West FL, 33947 (941) 697-6788.
Rotonda West History
A Round Community Is Romantic
When dining with multiple friends, I prefer a round table. It’s more congenial because everyone can see and talk easily with everyone else. For similar reasons, Joe Klein’s vision for…
You’ve Got Mail!
Three times that call has resonated for me, at boarding school at age 12, as a Marine in some God-forsaken Belgian ditch during WW2, and from 1948 on, after I…
A Salute to Ed McMahon
The original Rotonda developer made two smart moves in 1970. First, he negotiated with ABC-TV to telecast The Superstars, a unique new sports event, then he retained Ed McMahon, Johnny…
Early Facts About Rotonda West
The land on which Rotonda sits was owned originally by brothers William and Alfred Vanderbilt. William was a former Governor of Rhode Island, and both brothers were direct descendants of…
Don Pedro Island…. Rotonda West’s Most Overlooked Asset
It always amazes me that one of Rotonda West’s greatest assets is overlooked and underused… Don Pedro Island. Many Rotonda West residents seem unaware that a mid-1970’s investigation of Rotonda’s&hell…
Oil, Taxes and Scrub Jays Retard Rotonda West’s Early Growth
In 1970, right at Rotonda West’s start-up, the U.S. economy tanked and slowed development. Interest rates soared above 20 percent. Money for infrastructure became hard to find and borrow. (The…
Some Unlikely People Put Rotonda on the World Map, Including O.J.
Many individuals stand out in Rotonda West’s history as affecting the community’s course over time – WilliamVanderbilt, Joseph Klein, Col. Joe Tringali, TV pitchman Ed McMahon, Jim Petrides, among oth…
Golf: At the Heart of Rotonda West From Day One
Longtime Rotonda golfer Charlene Diggins said, “In the old days (mid-late 70’s) it was fun. The bar at the club was packed evenings, everyone having a good time, especially Fridays…
Rotonda: The Beginning and Before
As we traverse Rotonda, we might echo some interesting folk who preceded us. The history of our chunk of paradise goes deep. President James Monroe accepted Florida from Spain in…
