In Memory of John Tworoger

May 14, 1943 - February 7, 2008

John Tworoger of Austin and San Diego passed away on February 7. A dedicated family man and successful entrepreneur, John approached all aspects of life with incredible passion, integrity, and perseverance. Founder of the powerhouse commercial real estate investment and development firm Aspen Properties, the company’s tag line, “a legacy of quality development,” sums up well the kind of honorable reputation John built both personally and professionally. After growing up in Chicago, John earned degrees in chemistry and psychology from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. He then served in the U.S. Army as a captain in Vietnam where he was awarded a Bronze Star. John went on to receive his MBA from the University of Southern California.

It was there in California when John’s foray into real estate began. This was the field in which he would ultimately build a well-rounded, thriving, multi-state portfolio. In the beginning, he was a one-man operation that purchased apartments in need of repair and repositioning. A self-made man, John took great pride in maintaining a hands-on approach to all aspects of business from that point on.

In 1976, John founded Aspen Properties, where he controlled millions of square feet of office, industrial, retail and residential properties that he developed or acquired. The company was particularly active in the Austin and San Diego markets. Even as the company’s owner and top executive, John never gave up the practice of keeping a plumbing snake in the trunk of his car. As he put it, why pay for a plumber to fix a toilet he could unclog himself.

John married his wife and true soul mate, Brenda, in 1998. John had the utmost regard, respect and belief in his wife, and regularly acknowledged much of his success was due to simply doing as she told him. The two enjoyed a 9 year marriage and worked side by side in business together.

In addition to Aspen Properties, John was a franchisee and partner in many Burger King restaurants in the San Diego area. Along with his business partner, Roger Swift, they developed numerous Burger King restaurants from the ground up.

John was an active member and leader of the Board of Trustees for his alma mater, North Central College. He was also an active participant and donor to the Boys and Girls Club and supporter of other groups like the Hill Country Conservancy.

John was passionate about the field of real estate, and identifying and fostering growth in others. He intently went about hiring the finest talent as a way of building the best business. This resulted in the creation of a company with many loyal and longtime employees.

John also had the unique ability to view things in a different perspective than most.  This allowed him to maximize the value of his projects by seeing its potential where most could not.

John realized that his core group of long time business partners created the type of investment relationship he desired, which was based upon trust and confidence. These relationships enabled John to excel in creating a legacy of quality developments. As John thrived, he also insured those around him did as well. Always a loyal friend, he made sure those dear to him were able to benefit from his vast business and investment knowledge.

In his free time, John enjoyed good conversation, fine wine, entertaining, playing golf, a good cigar, traveling and most of all spending time with family and friends. John leaves a vast void in the lives of innumerable family members, friends, employees and professional associates. He is survived by wife Brenda, and two children: Patrick Tworoger and Stacy Tworoger. Other survivors include: brother, Pete Tworoger, nephews Michael Tworoger and David Tworoger.