John William deRussy, Baltimore real estate agent, dies

Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun
·3 min read

John William deRussy, who sold homes throughout Greater Baltimore during a lengthy career in real estate, died of cancer Saturday at Gilchrist Care Towson. The Lutherville resident was 77.

Born in Baltimore and raised in Ruxton, he was the son of Edward “Ned” deRussy, who sold law books, 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 a degree at the University of Virginia, where he also played lacrosse.

Mr. deRussy co-wrote and printed The Ruxton News, a community newspaper, as a 10-year-old. He and his friends listed marriages, vacations and mailboxes destroyed by cherry bombs.

“He took the little newspaper seriously and in recent years he’d bring old copies and show it around,” said Jane Love, a friend. “It was a cute little paper.”

Mr. deRussy taught at St. Paul’s School for Boys before going into real estate sales.

He joined the old Byrnes, Barroll and Gaines firm, and later worked at W.H.C. Wilson, O’Conor, Piper & Flynn and Coldwell Banker.

“Within a couple of years he was one of our top producers,” said Kemp Byrnes, who hired Mr. deRussy in the 1970s. “He was very much a gentleman. It took him no time to establish himself in the field.”

“John had a wealth of information about Baltimore in his mind. He knew which builder constructed a home and he knew the backgrounds of the persons who lived in them,” said Daniel Motz, a real estate colleague and friend. “He treated all his clients the same. He had an uncanny ability to remember birthdays too.”

Charles Carroll, another colleague, said: “John was down to earth, a bright guy and his handshake and his words were good on a transaction.”

Stephen F. Fruin, a friend and attorney, said: “John looked out for you. He would not push you into buying. He gave good advice and because of that, he developed a following of clients.”

“He had a great sense of humor and a calm voice that helped people relax during a transaction,” said Maureen Flynn, a fellow real estate colleague. “He had a terrific mind for details and knowledge.”

Mr. deRussy regularly met friends for lunch meetings at Belvedere Square market.

“John was a dapper dresser who wore pressed suits and pocket squares. He appeared to be conservative, but he was a liberal and was not afraid to share his views in a nonconfrontational way,” Mr. Motz said.

“John had friends from every economic walk of life and had an ease about him that made other people feel comfortable,” said his partner, Mary Gibb.

He was an avid reader of the English humorist P.G. Wodehouse and the crime fiction author Elmore Leonard. He enjoyed jazz, read widely on the subject and maintained a compact disc collection.

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He attended meetings of the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs and subscribed to world events publications.

“He was a modest individual who never talked about himself. As a youth, he was an outstanding athlete and in later years was a serious student of foreign affairs,” said a close friend, Rignal W. “Rig” Baldwin. “He was in the category of a person who says the least and says the most.”

“John was always interested in politics and foreign affairs and was well-read on the subject,” said John P. Coale, a friend since grade school. “From the Vietnam War on, he was interested in what the U.S. was doing in the world. He contrasted what we did after World War II — like the Marshall Plan — with what foreign policy has degraded into today.”

He was a regular at the Towson YMCA, where he exercised.

“He renewed his dues at the Y this past January. He was proud of being a member for 50 continuous years,” said his partner.

He was a benefactor of the United Negro College Fund.

A celebration of life is being planned.

Survivors include his partner of 14 years, Mary Gibb.