Industry mourns the loss of Sheldon Good's Andrew Ocrant

Real Estate Weekly, March 17, 1999

Andrew M. Ocrant, managing director of Sheldon Good & Company Auctions Northeast, died Wednesday, February 24th in New York. He was highly regarded as one of the East Coast's finest real estate agents, with listings that set record highs in the New York residential market.

Steven L. Good, president and CEO of Sheldon Good & Company International, said "Andrew was a man of great intelligence and extraordinary charm who greatly enriched the lives of his family and friends. In addition to being a brilliant businessman, Andrew had a degree from Julliard and had an extensive background in dance and the arts. All of us who worked with Andrew are greatly missing him."

Ocrant worked closely with Michael Fine, senior vice president and director of Project Management. At a memorial service for Ocrant, Fine said "When Andrew walked into a room he lifted everybody's spirits. He had an innate ability not often found in our business - or in anyone's life - to lower the tension level no matter what was going on."

"After a career in dance, Andrew transformed himself into a successful real estate man, beginning with selling little houses in Bergen County to becoming 'Broker of the Year.' Then he saw a real estate auction and said 'This is for me,'" Fine said. "In a short period of time he became head of our office in New York and one of the most important people in the real estate auction business in the United States. But people were what was important in Andrew's life. Relationships gave him his greatest joy. Andrew was my partner in business, my closest friend, my skiing buddy and I will miss him very much."

Jeff Hubbard, associate director of Sheldon Good & Company Auctions Northeast, said "Andrew loved the auction business. I was his business partner in New York for the last five years. We worked together on about 80 percent of the office's business. He made work fun every day and I'll miss him."

Ocrant oversaw the daily operations of an office that has sold billions of dollars' worth of residential, commercial and high-profile "trophy" real estate. He guided the development and implementation of the firm's ongoing, multiple-owner, multiple-property sales program, "the New York Metro series," currently providing four or more auction forums per year for property owners throughout the tri-state area. During his eight-year tenure with the firm, Ocrant was actively involved in over 175 auctions, including Prudential Home Mortgage, Midlantic Bank, Summit Bank, Citicorp Mortgage Corporation, New York Life, Chemical bank and The Bank of New York, resulting in sales of over $350 million.

Ocrant's talents were instrumental in the development and growth of the firm's Loan Sales division, which grew substantially under his tutelage and leadership. He was a principal player in the firm's loan sales programs for both Hyperion Credit Capitol partners and First Federated Savings & Loan of Rochester. These programs resulted in sales of over $100 million and consisted of performing, non-performing and subperforming commercial and residential loans. During these assignments, Ocrant supervised the packaging of loans, due diligence and direct marketing to prospective purchasers of the loan sale packages.

Ocrant was licensed to sell real estate in New York and New Jersey and as a member of the Real Estate Board of New York and the National Association of Realtors.

Ocrant was the son of Nancy Jeanne Harris, brother of Sara Stump and Ian Ocrant, and cousin of Michael Ocrant.