My coffee with Henry Mayo

By Jonathan Farrell

Nestled near a creek, on the westside of town is Sonoma Oaks – formerly called Rancho de Sonoma Mobile Home Park; almost right next door to Maxwell Village. It has a spectacular view of the hills in the distance as a backdrop. Not many people know it was the vision of only one man – Henry Mayo. It was he who wanted to establish a park of 100 homes in that spot.

Long before Henry and his son Jeffery founded Mayo Family Winery and Vineyards, up-valley in Kenwood, he was a real estate man.

“I loved the business,” said Mayo as he sat down to chat for coffee and cheesecake with Sonoma Oak residents, Ellen and Harry Shepherd.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mayo found his way to Cal at Berkeley after serving in the U.S. Marines. Upon graduation from Cal, Mayo got a job at a local savings and loan bank. It was that job that brought him into real estate. And it was his wife who brought him to Sonoma. “Falling in love with Diane, I fell in love with Sonoma. It is so beautiful here,” he said.

Of course when Mayo saw “an empty stretch of land,” (now almost over 50 years ago) as he recalled it, he thought that would be an idea place for houses.

The valley was much different, more rural then. “Yet, I knew it was going to grow no doubt about it. I figured if this is a place I want to raise my kids and then retire, other people would think and feel the same way too,” he said.

“I envisioned singe-family homes, not mobile homes said Mayo. But it was Terry Nasworthy who wanted mobile homes.”

  Among the original group of five to finance Mayo’s idea, were Terry Nasworthy, Stu Lambert, Harold Aguirre and Bob Roberts. They joined Mayo on the venture becoming fully partnered in 1972 as home developers.

Harold Aguirre and Roberts took over when Nasworthy had departed, unexpectedly. When Terry died “it was a frightening kick in the backside,” said Mayo. What was originally 17 acres got reduced to 13. “Those parcels on either side of the entrance to the park had to be sold to keep the plans going,” said Mayo. They are now part of the land that includes the gas station and the car wash.

Like Mayo, Aguirre was interested primarily in single-family homes when he embarked on his real estate career. But over time, Aguirre and Roberts saw a niche and their vision of mobile home living became very successful. Aguirre died in 2010. Yet, the management company he built with the development of mobile home parks continues to this day. Current Sonoma Oaks owner, Thompsen Properties is not affiliated with Aguirre’s surviving company.

Looking out towards the hills in the distance, Mayo said. “I sensed that even though there was a creek on this land, I knew flooding wouldn’t be an issue.” Not one to let nostalgic feelings, get in the way of business decisions, Mayo said, “I see things from both sides. I knew Sonoma would grow. But, right here in this spot, said Mayo, with the trees, the creek and the hills in the distance, it’s a natural to retire here.”