LIVINGSTON, NJ-Melvin Gebroe, founder and CEO of locally based brokerage Gebroe-Hammer Associates, died on Nov. 17 at the age of 86.

Gebroe founded the firm with the late Morris Hammer in 1975, and remained active with the company until his death on November 17. Hammer died in 2003. Today, the firm provides brokerage services and solutions to private owners, REITs, private equity firms and other institutional investors.

“Mel Gebroe was a legend in the commercial real estate universe," says Gebroe-Hammer's managing director Ken Uranowitz, who has worked closely with Mel since 1976. "Those who were fortunate enough to be taken under his wing early in their careers, who are now themselves extremely successful brokers, bankers, attorneys, real estate magnates, etc., have all credited their success stories today to Mel Gebroe’s leadership acumen from 30-plus years ago. He was a mentor, a friend and a deeply caring human being toward everyone with whom he came in contact, including all of us at Gebroe-Hammer. For me personally, beginning my career with Mel over 36 years ago, he was not only my teacher and my boss, he also taught me lessons beyond the scope of business and was a father-figure to me. I will forever be grateful. He will be sorely missed by each and every one of us."