It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of one of the most beloved members of the Brown Harris Stevens community, Riley Jason. A longtime agent in our Upper West Side office, Riley’s warmth, humor, and generosity left a lasting impression on colleagues and clients alike.
Those who worked alongside Riley remember him as someone who embodied the very best of our industry.
Kevin Kovesci, Co-President of NYC and Sales Director of the Upper West Side office, reflected on Riley’s unique impact:
“So often in this industry, our awards are given to the agents who produce the most GCI or highest number of sales. We rarely champion the agents who contribute the most to the culture of an office. If there was an award for the agent who listened the most, provided the most advice, who smiled every day and made smiles contagious, and who made it a joy to walk through the door, Riley would be the perennial winner of that award.”
Agent Robert Doernberg shared a memory from when he first joined the office in 2015:
“Riley was the first broker who came over and struck up a conversation with me—not about business, but about my personal life, in such a warm and cheerful way. That was Riley—joy, laughter, wonderful company, and a man of real integrity.
Every time I entered the office, he was smiling. He greeted everyone with warmth and positivity, usually with a little joke on the side—not quite a dad joke, but safely in that zone that always managed to bring a smile…He was a good man, and I’m so grateful that he touched my life.”
Friend and fellow agent Lisa Lippman will remember that he had “the best smile and always a funny comment. I will miss him so much. Will always hear him saying ‘Hi, Lees.’”
Outside of Real Estate, Riley combined his passion for bicycling with his support of and personal connection to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Every October since 1996, he cycled in Bike MS NYC to help raise funds for research to find a cure for this extremely debilitating disease.
A celebration of life is being planned on what would have been Riley’s 80th birthday, this coming April 30th.
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