Edward Gay, real estate broker
Edward T. Gay Jr., 60, of Center City, lead broker in the firm of George Gay Real Estate Inc., died Thursday, Aug. 4, of respiratory failure at Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse.
Edward T. Gay Jr., 60, of Center City, lead broker in the firm of George Gay Real Estate Inc., died Thursday, Aug. 4, of respiratory failure at Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse.
Known to friends as "Ted," Mr. Gay was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Willow Grove.
He graduated from Upper Moreland High School in 1974 and the University of Pittsburgh in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in economics and political science.
From age 16, he was employed in the business founded by his grandfather in 1923 - first as a gofer and later as the broker in charge of others in the office at 2029 Walnut St. in Center City. The firm also did building management.
"He was third generation in George Gay Real Estate in Rittenhouse Square and was quite well known in the area both generally and in real estate," said his wife, Martha Salzmann Gay.
Mr. Gay's interests were widespread. He volunteered as a leader of Boy Scout Troop 542 in Maple Glen; he loved following the Eagles and Flyers; and he enjoyed helping run political campaigns for local candidates.
"He was not the face of the campaign, but the mover and shaker in the background," his wife said.
He had a passion for all things Philadelphia. Out-of-town lawyers often called for information about properties in the city, and he was happy to oblige, his wife said.
"His knowledge of buildings was encyclopedic," she said.
Mr. Gay was a landlord, and also a big supporter of the arts. Sometimes those two worlds intersected. More than once, when an artist could not pay the rent, Mr. Gay accepted a painting as barter.
"We have a lot of paintings," his wife said.
He tried to help tenants in myriad ways, including working with the bereaved family after a tenant died.
Mr. Gay and his wife met in 1984 when he sold her a property on Waverly Street. They married a year later and lived in Center City before moving to Fort Washington to raise their son. The couple returned to the city in 2007.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Jeremy Prescott Thompson, and a sister.
Mr. Gay donated his body to science. A memorial event will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, 215 S. 16th St. RSVP to TedGayMemorial@gmail.com or 215-563-6724.
Memorial donations may be made to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts via www.pafa.org, or the Friends of Rittenhouse Square via http://friendsofrittenhouse.org.
610-313-8102