10/15/11 - NNHS Newsletter -
Erwin Drucker

Erwin Benson Drucker
(d. 12 Oct 2011)

Newport News High School Class of February 1946

   Thank you, Fred.  I saw both the obituary and the news release, but I did not know Mr. Drucker was valedictorian of his class.

NEWPORT NEWS — Erwin B. Drucker, a longtime partner at the Newport News real estate firm Drucker & Falk and a driving force in the Hampton Roads business community, died Wednesday at his home in Newport News. He was 81.

His friends said the cause was cancer.

Mr. Drucker became a partner in the firm in 1969 and helped usher the real estate company through a period of rapid expansion starting in the early 1970s. He remained active in the company as a consultant and co-chairman of its board until his death.

Drucker & Falk now employs more than 800 workers in about 100 offices throughout the Southeast.

Mr. Drucker also served as former rector of Christopher Newport University's Board of Visitors.

After graduating with honors from Harvard Law School, Mr. Drucker in 1955 joined the small Newport News real estate firm started by his father, A. Louis Drucker, and Emanuel E. Falk in 1938.

In 1970, a year after becoming a partner in the company, Mr. Drucker, along with Emanuel's son, David C. Falk Sr., expanded into North Carolina, opening an office in Raleigh.

Since then, Drucker & Falk has continued to expand; it now has a presence in seven states and oversees a portfolio of about 30,000 residential units. The company also provides third-party management services for commercial properties, including apartment, office and industrial buildings and senior housing facilities.

Known for his ubiquitous bow tie and impeccable style, Mr. Drucker was a lover of food, music and the arts.

He held a standing Saturday night reservation at Circa 1918, said Andrew Hyatt, the Hilton Village restaurant's general manager and a friend of Mr. Drucker.

Although Mr. Drucker almost always dined alone, "twenty or 30 people every night would come over and talk to him," Hyatt said. "He knew everybody, and he always handled the room."

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rona Mound Drucker, who died of cancer in 1998 at age 67. His daughter, Wendy C. Drucker, is the firm's managing partner.

A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. Sunday at Hampton Roads Academy. His family will receive visitors at Mr. Drucker's home, 1427 Riversedge Road, Newport News.

Copyright © 2011, Newport News, Va., Daily Press

NEWPORT NEWS - Erwin Benson Drucker died peacefully at his home, surrounded by family on Oct. 12, 2011. He was born into one of the original Jewish families on the Peninsula, son of the late Louis and Loraine Drucker.
He was predeceased by Rona, his wife of 45 years.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Wendy C. Drucker and Michael R. Piercy, and their children, Evan and Nicole Drucker Piercy; as well as his son and daughter-in-law, David E. M. Drucker and Lynn Loyd Atkinson, and their children, Natalie and Adam Atkinson Drucker. Other survivors include his sister, Barbara Drucker Smith; and sister-in-law, Margo Mound Drucker.

In 1946, he graduated Valedictorian from Newport News High School, in 1950 received his A.B. Phi Beta Kappa from UVA, and in 1953 received his J.D. degree cum laude from Harvard Law School. Following law school, he served three years active duty as a First Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General Corps, stationed at Headquarters, First Army, Governors Island. He served as the Trial (prosecuting) Attorney in the prosecution of two Korean War POW turncoat cases. He retired holding the rank of Captain.

In 1955, he returned to Newport News to join his father at Drucker & Falk, the family real estate, property management, and insurance company. A part of Drucker & Falk during the firm's rapid expansion, he focused on contract negotiations. He served as President of the Newport News-Hampton Board of Realtors in 1966, and was recognized as Realtor of the Year in 1968 and 1981 and as 'Realtor Best Exemplifying the Code of Ethics' in 1971.

On the national level, after becoming a Certified Property Manager as designated by the Institute of Real Estate Management, he became an instructor and worked to improve the curriculum, emphasizing professional ethics and standards. He was IREM's President in 1978, dedicating a year to educating others about the negative impact of rent control.

By the time Erwin retired from Drucker & Falk, the firm had grown from a small local company to one of the top 50 management companies in the country, with more than 800 employees doing business throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

Throughout his career, he served on numerous business-oriented boards and committees, including the United Virginia Bank and the Peninsula Ports Authority, focusing on improving the business environment of the Peninsula.

In 1957, he was a member of the Riverside Hospital Building Fund committee. In 1973, he headed the Peninsula United Fund Major Firms Division, a year after his wife Rona chaired the entire campaign. From 1983 to 1991 he served on the Christopher Newport University Board of Visitors, and was its Rector from 1990 to 1991. His tenure on the board at CNU saw a rapid expansion of the university's academic offerings and physical plant, including building the first dormitory and the acquisition of the former Ferguson High School, which became the nucleus of the Ferguson Performing Arts Center.
Erwin's love of the arts was lifelong and he worked to promote performing and visual arts throughout Hampton Roads. He was President and then Chairman of the Board of the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra in 1970 and 1971. He urged the consolidation of the orchestras throughout the region, playing an integral role in the creation of the Virginia Symphony.

He was an avid art collector. He enjoyed museums, musical and theatrical performances, and encouraged young people to pursue their interests in the arts. He was a lover of the water, beginning with his youth on the Hampton Roads, then as a waterfront counselor at a summer camp in Massachusetts where he met Rona, the only love of his life. He loved sailing on the James River and spending time each summer with his children and grandchildren at a lakefront cottage in Maine.
In the later years, Erwin's primary charitable efforts supported Hampton Roads Academy. He was instrumental in establishing Hampton Roads County Day School for pre-K through 5th graders, making HRA the only pre-K through 12 independent school on the Peninsula.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers or other gifts, contributions be made to the Erwin B. and Rona M. Drucker Fund for Faculty Enhancement at Hampton Roads Academy, 739 Academy Lane, Newport News, VA 23602.

The memorial service will be held at noon on Sunday, Oct. 16, at Hampton Roads Academy. The family will receive visitors at Mr. Drucker's home, 1427 Riversedge Road, Newport News, from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday and also on Sunday after the service. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.

Published in the Daily Press from October 15 to October 16, 2011.
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Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

~ Sharon Baker, Newport News, Virginia
 

October 14, 2011

Oh no! Barbara and Susan, I am so sorry. He was so interesting and interested in everyone and so many things. Everyone will miss him. Many hugs.

~ Terry Joseph, Newport News, Virginia
 

October 14, 2011

October 15, 2011
 

October 15, 2011