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Donald Aronow

1927 – 1987

American designer/builder/racer:famous Magnum Marine/Cigarette/Donzi/Formula speedboats

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About Donald Aronow

Lived 1927 – 1987 (aged 59). Donald Aronow was an American designer.

Donald Joel Aronow (March 3, 1927 – February 3, 1987) was an American designer, builder, and racer of Formula, Donzi, Magnum Marine, Cary, and Cigarette Racing Team speedboats. Aronow built speedboats for the Shah of Iran, Charles Keating, Robert Vesco, Malcolm Forbes, George H. W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Early life and education Aronow was born in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn, the son of Russian–Jewish immigrants Herman and Ruth Aronow. He had two older sisters, Sylvia and Lillian. Aronow graduated as a top athlete from James Madison High School in 1944, worked as a lifeguard at Coney Island, and enrolled at Brooklyn College. Ben Kramer, winner of the 1986 American Power Boat Association Offshore Championship, pleaded no contest to manslaughter in 1996. Kramer had a business dispute with Aronow after buying Aronow's USA Racing Team, but was forced to sell it back after the Customs Service refused to do business with him. Aronow and Goldin were divorced in 1979. Aronow's second wife was Lillian Crawford. He and Crawford had two sons, Gavin and Wylie.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Brooklyn College
Also known as
Donald Joel Aronow

People in Donald Aronow's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Donald Aronow's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Donald Aronow?

American designer/builder/racer:famous Magnum Marine/Cigarette/Donzi/Formula speedboats (1927–1987)

When was Donald Aronow born?

Donald Aronow was born on 3 March 1927 in Brooklyn.

When did Donald Aronow die?

Donald Aronow died on 3 February 1987 in Miami.

What was Donald Aronow's occupation?

Donald Aronow was a designer.

What nationality was Donald Aronow?

Donald Aronow was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Donald Aronow

· Wikidata: Q5293975

· DBpedia: Donald Aronow

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Donald Aronow. https://biography.guide/donald-aronow/

MLA: "Donald Aronow." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/donald-aronow/.

Chicago: "Donald Aronow." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/donald-aronow/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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