If you're of the boom generation and jumped back into O-gauge toy trains in the 1980s or 1990s, that may have been inspired by a read of Ron Hollander's great 1981 book All Aboard: The Story of Joshua Lionel Cowen & His Lionel Train Company. I have read it a number of times, both for the history of the company, as well as the lessons of entrepreneurship to be gleaned from Cowen's development and management of the enterprise. Hollander proved himself a great writer of corporate and hobby history with this work, and I know many folks who returned to toy trains after reading the book.
Mr. Hollander passed away this past February, and this book is just a sliver of his legacy. A college professor, a journalist, an activist, and philanthropist, he left a big mark. I ran into him once at York around 2010, and he said he was looking forward to retirement and building himself a layout. Not sure if either of those things ever happened for him.
He'll be missed.
https://montclairlocal.news/obituary-ron-hollander/
RIP Ron Hollander
Re: RIP Ron Hollander
This is indeed sad news. I will post at my blog. Thank you.
