Now their vision and interest ….

Now their vision and interest expanded and soon they were involved in Lakewood ranch style homes that later inspired them to build Rossmoor.

Ranch-style homes were the first version of real model homes. The homes were tricked out with every modern convenience and showcased the latest and greatest appliances. No detail was spared.

The homes were highly prized with one even being given away by a popular TV show, “Queen for a Day,” which ended in 1964. The ranch house design (also referred to as mid-century modern) is still highly coveted.

The Corteses studied and learned lessons from others before them, including Del Webb and his work creating Sun City in Arizona.

Moving forward, the Corteses decided to buy the tract of land in Seal Beach and that would become Leisure World. It is also the place where the playbook was written for all the other locations: location, safety, walls, maturely landscaped communities (trees, sod, flowering plants, etc), which allow beautiful living with serpentine pathways, and no overcrowding.

Ross Cortese passed away in 1991. Heidi Cortese, along with IDI International Builders finished Leisure World Maryland in 2012.

Ross Cortese’s legacy in retirement housing is huge, and the buildings are but the tip of the iceberg.

Heidi Cortese says she is most proud of the great gift her father gave to the USC School of Gerontology. It is the largest school of its kind worldwide and provides control groups for people to study gerontology all over the world.

Ross Cortese was ahead of his time. Leisure World Seal Beach is the jewel in the crown that he assembled.