Born on a farm in Clovis, California and raised on Potrero Hill in San Francisco, Moe served as a construction engineer in World War II and spent a short period working for two general contractors, refining his carpentry skills.
Moe's first truck, a 1940 International D2
Joined by his wife Lois, also a San Francisco native, who handled the bookkeeping and office management, the two grew the business together. Significant early work was on Pier 33 and at 353 Columbus in the city; his first single family home was in 1953 at 1522 Innes for the Gok family.
800 Girard Street, 1957
Construction company projects were focused in San Francisco, with commercial and retail / industrial properties including office spaces on Pier 35 and the Molinari Salame Factory in 1961, and all types of residential construction from single family homes, multi-family apartments, and the Capri Motel, in use today just as it was originally built.
The Capri Motel, 2015 Greenwich Street, 1957
Along with the apartment buildings the company continues to manage today, 1960's work included renovation projections for Castanola's Restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf, and in the early 1970's a conversion of a parking garage to an office building at 735 Montgomery Street.
Moe at work on foundations and retaining walls, 1965
735 Montgomery Street, an early 1970's renovation from parking garage to office building
The duo shifted their focus to property management during the 1980’s to maintain and manage the existing multi-family apartments originally built by Rosano Construction. Moe passed away from cancer in 1985, leaving behind a valued reputation as an honest, hard-working, and highly respected builder. "A man's word is his bond" was one of his favorite sayings, and a phrase he always lived by.
The company continues to be run by the family in the same spirit it was founded - with pride of ownership, honesty and genuine care. Providing quality apartments across San Francisco, the company continues to recognize our tenants as our valued customers, and carry on the legacy of Moe and Lois Rosano.
