Rollin Miles Warner Jr. was born on December 25, 1930, at the Evanston Hospital in Illinois to Rollin Miles Warner and Julia Polk Warner (later Clarkson). He was the youngest of three children, preceded by his sister Alice Warner McLennan (b. 1924) and followed by his brother John C. Warner (b. 1937).
He attended North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, Illinois, and later New Trier High School. His academic journey took him to the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, where he excelled as an All-America prep swimmer. In 1948, he attended Oundle School in England, where he was honored with the Victor Ludorem Cup as the school’s best all-around swimmer. He continued his education at Yale University, earning a B.A. in History in 1953, with an emphasis on Chinese, Japanese, and African history. He later pursued studies at Harvard Law School and earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1960.
A man of many talents and interests, Miles began collecting ship models and electric trains at a young age, passions that stayed with him throughout his life. As a child, his summers were spent working for his grandparents in Des Moines, learning the value of hard work. He developed and developing a lifelong interest in book collecting during his years at Yale, where he served as secretary of the Jared Eliots, the undergraduate fellows of the university library.
In 1953, Miles was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve, where he served as a Lieutenant during his active duty. His service took him to Hawaii, Japan, and Vietnam, where he served with the French Foreign Legion.
Professionally, Miles worked with Matson Shipping and Navigation Company and later as Assistant Director of Development at Stanford University. His passion for teaching led him to a long career in education at Town School, where he taught history, math, and economics over six decades. His roles included teaching, several years away serving as principal of the Boys School at Branson, and eventually developing and teaching electives until his retirement in 2023.
Miles also pursued successful side careers in real estate, financial planning, and investments.
His hobbies reflected his intellectual curiosity and love for craftsmanship. Whether building ship models, collecting electric trains, or curating his beloved book collection, he found joy in lifelong learning and creativity. He also served as a Boy Scout and Sea Scout leader and remained involved with his local church throughout his life.
Miles will be remembered for his sharp intellect, dedication to his students, and unwavering integrity, a trait he valued deeply. As he often said, "Integrity is really essential in the world of finance." His presence, wisdom, and influence will be missed by all who knew him.
A graveside service will be conducted by his nephew, the Rev. Scotty McLennan, at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 1, at the East Union Cemetery, 1035 N. Union Street, Manteca. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Rollie Warner Excellence in Teaching Endowment, Town School for Boys, 2750 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94115.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Saturday, September 21, 2024
