But there was nothing more important to Klebanoff than his family. His wife, Merle, and sons Kory and Josh, were the center of his universe. He was a devoted son, and spoke to his mother daily. He also had close ties with his brother, Arthur, and sisters Susan and Louise, along with their spouses and children.

In spite of the difficulties Klebanoff faced in the last few months of his life, he never stopped giving of himself. His colleagues describe him as the "king of the blackberry," because he made every effort to be in constant contact with family, friends and business associates. "We really loved Marty and miss him so much," says Janet L. Proscia, senior vice president at NorthMarq. "It's hard to describe his impact…he was just 'real'--a no nonsense guy--you always knew where you stood. He had such a great sense of humor and was a true pleasure to be around." NorthMarq's top producer award will be known as the Martin T. Klebanoff Award "to honor his great spirit of the deal and his many accomplishments and dedication to the company and industry," explains Proscia.

"What I found most endearing about Marty was that with all his success, and his shining character he was the kind of person everyone wanted to be around," says Parsippany-based vice president Dimpesh Darjee. "For someone who accomplished so much, he was incredibly humble. He had a truth and genuineness about him that will always be second to none."

Jim Poole, managing director in the New Jersey office, concurs with his peers. "He was a great leader and business man, but what is more important is that he was a great friend to all who knew him."