Malcolm J. Renton; Helped Develop Catalina Island

Malcolm Joseph Renton, who helped develop Santa Catalina as the island resort a fabled 26 miles across the sea from Southern California, has died. He was 89.

Renton, former general manager of the Santa Catalina Island Co., died Aug. 1 at Lakewood Regional Medical Center.

Born in Pasadena, Renton grew up on Santa Catalina as the son of David M. Renton, considered the right hand of island proprietor and chewing gum magnate William Wrigley.

After graduating from Stanford, Malcolm Renton became assistant to his father, the first general manager of the island company, and at his father’s retirement succeeded him as assistant to Wrigley.

David Renton, with Malcolm’s frequent help, was responsible for building many of the famous landmarks of Catalina and Avalon--the Casino, the Airport in the Sky, the reservoir providing water for Avalon, Renton Mine, the Wrigley Mansion at Mt. Ada (now a bed and breakfast), the Catalina Bird Park, the Chimes Tower and the Catalina Visitors Country Club.

The younger Renton served in the Army during World War II, attaining the rank of captain, and then returned to Catalina to become senior vice president and general manager of the island company. He also held the offices of corporate secretary and director of the company, president and director of the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy and vice president of the Wrigley Memorial Garden Foundation. He retired in 1975 after 42 years of service.

A pillar of the Avalon community, Renton was president of the Catalina Island Museum Society, Avalon Hospital and the Avalon Rotary Club. He served as a director of the Avalon Chamber of Commerce, a trustee of Avalon Community Church and a member of the advisory board of the KBIG/KBRT radio stations.

An Eagle Scout, Renton became a director of the Pasadena-San Gabriel Valley Scouting Council and earned the Silver Beaver Award for his many years of adult assistance to Scouting on Catalina.

Renton is survived by his third wife, Carolyn Bostrom, whom he married in 1992; his son, David; and four grandchildren. His wife of 33 years, the former Virginia Hill, died in 1979. His second wife, Janet Reitz, whom he married in 1981, died in 1990.

A public memorial service is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday in the Casino Ballroom on Santa Catalina Island.