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Roger Tuckerman, former president of Brown Harris Stevens, dies at 81
The real estate leader began and ended his career at BHS
Roger Tuckerman, formerly president of Brown Harris Stevens, died last month. He was 81.
Tuckerman died of complications following a 14-year fight against Parkinson’s.
Tuckerman began and ended his real estate career at BHS. He started in the brokerage’s property management division in 1961 before moving to head the brokerage division at Douglas Elliman. After returning to BHS, Tuckerman was named its president in 1989. Shortly after, in 1991, he was the second industry leader to win the Real Estate Board of New York’s Henry Forster Award. Tuckerman remained president at BHS until he retired in 2007.
“Roger was a stalwart leader in the residential brokerage community,” REBNY President John H. Banks said in a statement. “As one of the first recipients of REBNY’s Henry Forster Award for Lifetime Achievement, he was highly regarded for his accomplishments and dedication to the real estate industry. We extend our sincere condolences to his family and colleagues.”
Real estate ran in the family. Tuckerman’s daughter Katherine joined BHS as an agent in 2007, working alongside her mother Edith, an industry veteran.
“He definitely put his stamp on the company of professionalism and with an interest to do right thing, not just make a dollar,” said Hall Willkie, current president of BHS. “He set the tone.”
Willkie worked with Tuckerman at both Elliman and BHS — and Tuckerman taught him everything he needed to know about co-op business.
A New York City native, Tuckerman was an athlete from a young age and had varied hobbies. Soccer, tennis and court tennis were a common thread throughout his time at the St. Mark’s School and Harvard College. He won several court tennis tournaments at Racquet and Tennis Club in New York — and went on to serve on its board of governors.
Tuckerman also self-published a novel and designed a board game called Counterstrike — for which Jackie Kennedy took a promotional photo.
Tuckerman is survived by his wife Edith, three children, three grandchildren and his sister. He and his family spent time in Florida and New York — including at their house in Bedford, where his gravestone will be placed.
The funeral service will be held on Sep. 6 at the Church of the Heavenly Rest followed by a reception at the Racquet and Tennis Club.