Meet Donald Aronow aka Ben Aronoff

Donald Joel Aronow was an American designer, builder and racer of the famous Magnum Marine, Cary, Cigarette, Donzi, and Formula speedboats. He built speedboats for the Shah of Iran, Charles Keating, Robert Vesco, Malcolm Forbes, and George H. W. Bush. Retired President Lyndon B. Johnson owned several 16 ft. Donzi speedboats on his Texas ranch with which he would race his Secret Service agents.

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Is Speed Kills a True Story based on Donald Aronow?

Despite minor changes to the protagonist’s name and many other aspects in the film, the plot of ‘Speed Kills’ is based on the true story of Aronow. The script is based on Arthur J. Harris’s book of the same name and follows much of the same plot, focusing on the events leading up to Aronow’s death. It alters small aspects such as character names (Aronow’s widow’s name was actually Lillian) and minor happenings, but sticks to the names of the man’s legendary boats and the historic race victories they racked up. The Cigarette, Aronow’s most famous boat model, is heavily featured in the movie.

Surprisingly, the major character’s murder and those responsible for it are left largely unexplored in the film version. It concentrates on Aronow’s stay in Miami, from his entry into the speedboat building business to his assassination. The movie does not go into detail on the boat builder’s real-life relationship with Benjamin Barry Kramer, despite the fact that he appears to have some criminal ties. Furthermore, the six-plus years that the authorities spent looking for the murderer were not in the script.

In truth, the Miami-Dade Police Department spent nearly six years tracking down Aronow’s killer before finally convicting Robert ‘Bobby’ Young. It was also revealed that Kramer allegedly bribed Young $60,000 to carry out the murder. Both men were incarcerated for a variety of offenses, including drug trafficking and gun possession. Despite this, the specific cause for Aronow’s murder, which has been linked to a failed business venture, remains a mystery.

As a result, while ‘Speed Kills’ is clearly based on a factual story, it only covers a small portion of the events that inspired it. The film provides a complete depiction of the genuine Don Aronow’s public persona through its protagonist Ben Aronoff. It does not, however, go into detail about his financial transactions or the circumstances surrounding his death.

Donald Aronow Age, Family, and Early Life

Donald Aronow was born on March 1, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Aronow, the youngest son of Russian-Jewish immigrants Herman and Ruth Aronow, was born in Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay neighborhood. Sylvia and Lillian were his two older sisters.

donald aronow family

During the Great Depression, his father ran a gas station and subsequently a cab company, both of which failed. He died on February 3, 1987 (aged 59) in Miami, Florida, U.S. the cause of death was homicide.

Donald Aronow Career, What was his profession?

He worked as a physical education instructor after school until he accepted a job with his father-in-construction law’s company in southern New Jersey, which was growing thanks to demand from returning World War II veterans.

He turned his pastime into a business by the end of 1962, when he founded the Formula Marine boat firm, which he later sold to Dayton, Ohio-based Merrick Lewis’ Alliance Machine Corp. He founded Donzi Marine in 1964, and the Donzi brand became an international success, prompting Aronow to sell the company to Teleflex Inc. in mid-1965.

Aronow’s boats won over 350 offshore races and he was a two-time world champion and three-time U.S. champion. He has been elected to every powerboating Hall of Fame in existence and as stated above, he and Gar Wood were the only two Americans to have ever received the UIM Gold Medal of Honor.

Which school did he go to?

He completed his studies as top athlete from James Madison High School in 1944. He graduated from Brooklyn College in 1948 with a physical education degree earning letters in football, wrestling, and track.

Donald Aronow Girlfriend, What about his relationship?

In 1948, Donald Aronow married Shirley Goldin who he had met while working as a lifeguard on Coney Island. They had three children. In 1979 they divorced.

After that he married his second wife a former Wilhelmina model, Lillian Crawford, 24 years his junior. They had two sons, Gavin and Wylie.

Donald Aronow Net Worth, How much does he earn?

The net worth of Donald Aronow was $7 million dollars.

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Is he available on any kind of social media platform?

He does not seem to be available on any social media platform.

Body Appearance of Donald Aronow’s Height, Weight

HeightFeet: N / A
Centimeter: N / A
Meter: N / A
Hair colorBlack 
Eye colorBlack
WeightKilogram: N / A
Pound: N / A
Body typeFit
Sexual orientationStraight

Interesting facts about Donald Aronow’s you should be know

NationalityAmerican
EthnicityWhite
Age59 Years
Relationship StatusMarried
SpousesLillian Crawford

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