John William DeRussy, who sold homes throughout Greater Baltimore during a long career in real estate, died of cancer Saturday at Gilchrist Care Towson. The Lutherville resident was 77 years old.
Born in Baltimore and raised in Ruxton, he was the son of Edward “Ned” DeRusey, a law book seller, and Miriam McGarvey, a homemaker. He was a graduate of St. Paul's School for Boys in Brooklandville, where he wrestled and played lacrosse. He earned his degree from the University of Virginia, where he also played lacrosse.
Mr. De Russy co-wrote and printed a community newspaper, The Ruxton News, when he was 10 years old. He and his friends cited weddings, vacations, and mailboxes destroyed by cherry bombs.
“He took this little newspaper very seriously and in recent years he would bring in old newspapers to show us,” said friend Jane Love. “It was a very cute paper.”
Prior to his career in real estate sales, Mr. De Russy taught at St. Paul's School for Boys.
He joined the old firm of Barnes, Valor & Gaines and later worked at WHC Wilson, O'Connor, Piper & Flynn and Coldwell Banker.
“Within a few years he became one of our top producers,” said Kemp Burns, who hired Mr. De Russy in the 1970s. “He was such a gentleman. It didn't take long for him to establish himself in this field.”
“John had a wealth of information in his head about Baltimore. He knew which builders built the houses, and he knew the backgrounds of the people who lived there.” Real Estate said colleague and friend Daniel Motz. “He treated all his customers the same. He also had an uncanny ability to remember his birthday.”
Another co-worker, Charles Carroll, said: “John was a practical, intelligent man who was polite in his handshakes and polite in his words when it came to dealings.''
As my friend and lawyer Stephen F. Fruin said, He doesn't force you to buy. He gave me good advice and I gained a following of customers. ”
“He had a great sense of humor and a gentle voice that helped put people at ease during transactions,” said real estate colleague Maureen Flynn. “He had a great mind for details and knowledge.”
Mr. de Russi regularly held lunch meetings with friends at the Belvedere Square market.
“John was a smart dresser who wore pressed suits and pocket squares. Although he appeared to be conservative, he was liberal and not afraid to share his opinions without confrontation. “I did,” Motz said.
His partner Mary Gibb said: “John had friends from all walks of life and was a friendly person who put others at ease.”
He was an avid reader of British humorist PG Wodehouse and crime novelist Elmore Leonard. He loved jazz, read widely on the subject, and kept a compact collection of his discs.
He attended meetings of the Baltimore Council on Foreign Relations and subscribed to world affairs publications.
“He was a modest man who never talked about himself. In his youth he was an excellent athlete, and in later years he was a serious student of foreign affairs,” said his close friend Rignall W. ” Baldwin said. “He was in the category of people who say a lot, to say the least.”
“John was always interested in politics and foreign affairs and was very well read in that field,” said John P. Cole, a friend from elementary school. “Ever since the Vietnam War, he was interested in what America was doing in the world. He was interested in what we did after World War II, like the Marshall Plan, and in foreign policy today. contrasted with what had deteriorated.”
He was a regular at the Towson YMCA and worked out there.
“He renewed his dues at the Y this past January. He was proud to have been a continuous member for 50 years,” his partner said.
He was a patron of the United Negro College Fund.
We are planning a celebration of life.
Survivors include his partner of 14 years, Mary Gibb;
