International RE Firm Mourns Exec, Plans for Future

Chicago-based commercial real estate firm Sheldon Good & Co. Auctions International LLC marked the passing of its chairman and CEO, Steven L. Good - a globally-known author and philanthropist - on Tuesday by closing all its offices as it made plans to reopen Wednesday under its president's day-to-day management. Multiple news reports indicate Mr. Good's death was an apparent suicide. He had been quoted as saying, like many industry executives, that the commercial real estate market has been challenging. A spokeswoman who has worked with the family since 1976, Susan Berman Hammer, told MortgageWire that the death was a surprise to all that knew him and he had been optimistic and energized by his many business and philanthropic activities as well as his writing, and had been looking forward to chairing the National Association of Realtors' commercial alliance this year. Several family members survive Mr. Good, including his father, Sheldon Good, whom his company was named after and who also is a well-known international real estate executive. Company president Alan R. Kravets said in a statement posted on the company's website that it plans to "continue the tradition of excellence established by our founder, Sheldon Good, and expanded upon by our late chief executive" going forward. "We have a number of exciting projects currently in development. Steve enjoyed this fact," he said.