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Thos Rohr, the 'Commish', died on November 10, 2022 in Honolulu, Hawai'i. He was devoted to his family and friends, and left his mark on the business world as a trailblazing resort development visionary."Like his dear friend Arnold Palmer, the Commish was an authentic original. He was a true legend," recalled Mark Rolfing, Television Golf Analyst and la friend of many decades.
Thomas Anthony Rohr was born on January 10, 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio to Charles (Chuck) Eugene Rohr, Sr. and Loretta Kramer Rohr. Although his father had a successful restaurant in Cleveland, Rohr and his siblings spent time at the family's farm in Chardon, Ohio. There he learned the value of hard work balanced with a good bit of fun, as his father loved to host large events at the farm. In his youth, Rohr was a natural athlete, playing football and golf, as well as being an accomplished equestrian. He was a student of Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio, University of Notre Dame and Cornell University.
On New Year's Eve 1959, his pal racecar driver Peter Revson persuaded Rohr to take an impromptu trip with just his tuxedo and raincoat. The story goes that he woke up in Waikiki, saw his fi rst Hawaiian sunrise, and decided he was home. Armed with his father's training and a love for golf, Rohr catapulted himself into the Islands' hospitality and visitor industry. He helped open the Maile Room at the Kahala Hilton Hotel with Bob Burns, launched the Mauna Kea Resort for Laurance Rockefeller, and, as President of Kapalua Land Company, developed Kapalua Maui into an internationally renowned resort destination. He was President and CEO of Waikoloa Land Company for more than twenty years. Rohr also had projects in Monterey, California; Lake Las Vegas, Nevada; and was a founding member of the Kingsbarns, Golf Links, Scotland.
Outside of his business pursuits, Rohr enjoyed being a longtime member of Waialae Country Club and the Outrigger Canoe Club, as well as The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews, Scotland. It was in St. Andrews where he married Robin Stephens, his wife of almost 30 years. Their partnership was filled with joy, mutual admiration and great adventures.
While Rohr was certainly an industry leader, a man with a rapier wit, and the gifts of a world class raconteur, a man of 10,000 stories—most important was the positive impact he made on his treasured friends, worldwide, and his loving family. He had a special relationship with his grandson Nicholas Rohr Livingston, with whom he enjoyed many hours of friendly competition, companionship and love.
Rohr leaves behind beloved family members: wife Robin, daughter Nina, son-in-law
Lance Emery Livingston, grandson Nicholas, brother Jim Rohr and his wife Sharon, brother
Chuck, and sister Lorie, as well as 12 nieces and nephews and 19 great-nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by father Chuck Rohr, Sr., mother Loretta Kramer Rohr, wife Anka
Flovig Rohr, and sister Mary Anne Rohr McGinness.
Contributions celebrating Rohr's love of the game of golf and the important lessons in
character and discipline it teaches our youth, may be made to: Hawaii State Junior Golf
Association/ HSJGA.org - The Rohr Scholarship Fund. It makes college scholarships
available to talented golfers seeking higher education and college degrees.
Donations may be made with the QR code or at HSJGA.org - click on donate at the bottom
of the page. Or checks may be made to the HSJGA/Rohr Scholarship Fund:
HSJGA
4330 Kukui Grove Street
Lihue, HI 96766
The HSJGA is a 501(c)(3).
Please join us virtually on Zoom on January 28, 2023, at 8:30am for a live musicperformance, followed by the Thos Rohr Celebration of Life at 9:00am. Access via hsjga.org
