Saratoga News
News
Rankin retires as Realtor, not as 'Mr. Saratoga'
By Jason Sweeney
Mr. Saratoga has left the building. After 45 years as a Realtor on Big Basin Way, Miles Rankin has retired.
Rankin, who is in his 80s, announced his retirement in the Coldwell-Banker office on Big Basin Way. But that doesn't mean he won't be seen around town. Rankin plans to continue being an active member of the Saratoga Rotary Club. And as the longest- standing member of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, he plans to remain a member.
"He renewed his membership," said Sharmaine Nunes, of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce. "Bless his heart. There's only one Miles."
Rankin served as president of the board of directors for the Chamber in 1973-1974 and again in 1974-1975. He also served as president of the Saratoga Rotary Club in 1972-1973.
Rankin's continuing presence in the Village for the last 45 years and his abundance of friends has led many to give him the title of Mr. Saratoga, said his longtime companion and fellow real estate agent Rita Boren. "He's always upbeat," she said. Boren started working for Rankin in 1971. The two became an item in 1991. Rankin has no children, but Boren said, "The city of Saratoga is like his child. He was there in the beginning, and he's seen it grow up."
Rankin sold his first home in the Argonaut neighborhood of Saratoga in 1961. The house went for $18,000. His last sale was a similar home sold in 2005. That house sold for $2 million.
Originally from New York, Rankin graduated from NYU and attended Harvard University for one year before joining the Navy in 1942. He served on the aircraft carrier the USS St. Lo, which was sunk by a kamikaze attack in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest sea battle in history. After the St. Lo was sunk, Rankin swam for five hours before being picked up by a destroyer. He was awarded a Purple Heart.
Having survived the war, Rankin settled in California. He opened a real estate office on Big Basin Way and has stayed in the Village ever since. "I felt comfortable in Saratoga from day one," he said. "I loved living there, working there and being part of the community. It's the ideal situation."
Among his proudest accomplishments were working to get the old Swanee store building and the McWilliams House moved to the city's Historic Park. The Swanee store building is now the Saratoga History Museum. Rankin was also involved in selling the Hakone Gardens to the city of Saratoga. "I sold it on a handshake in one day," he said.
When Rankin first came to town, the real estate market was starting to boom as the valley's economy was changing from agricultural to high tech. At that time, Saratoga was a small, tightly knit community that had just been incorporated as a city. Rankin knew the first mayor of Saratoga, Burton Brazil. He knew the founder of the Saratoga News, Sherman Miller. And today he still knows the founding member of the Saratoga Rotary Club and its first president, Randy Rhodes. "I knew them all," Rankin said.
More than 100 friends came out for Rankin's retirement party on May 25 at the Rinconada Hills clubhouse in Los Gatos. At the party, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce presented Rankin with a plaque thanking him for his membership at the Chamber and for his community service.
What does Rankin plan to do in his retirement? "Sleep late," he said. "And travel and enjoy life."
Rankin and Boren are both experienced world travelers. The two are off to Europe this summer for a riverboat cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. "I don't have any strong hobbies, except Rita," he said.
"Saratoga has always been a desirable place to live," he said. "And the town has always tried to make Big Basin Way as charming as possible."
