ALISO VIEJO, CA-Robert M. Campbell, one of the most influential leaders in the California commercial real estate industry for more than four decades, passed away on Dec. 15, 2011, in Newport Beach, CA. Campbell founded CT Realty Corp., along with U.T. “Tom” Thompson III, in 1994 and served as president of the company from 1994 to 2009, becoming chairman in 2009.
He passed peacefully at home surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren. Campbell was 71.
During Campbell’s tenure, CT Realty completed more than 200 transactions valued in excess of $2.5 billion. Prior to establishing CT Realty, Campbell was general partner of Birtcher Campbell Properties for 20 years. While at Birtcher, he was responsible for the development of commercial real estate projects involving more than 11.5 million square feet of space.
He was also a founder and past chairman of the board of Pacific National Bank in Newport Beach. Over the years, Campbell was the recipient of numerous awards for his business and philanthropic achievements. In 2003, he received the UC Irvine Graduate School of Management’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented to an individual who has exhibited a long period of positive influence over the real estate industry in Orange County, CA. In addition, Campbell was honored with Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” award in 2003 in the category of Real Estate Services.
He was also presented with a proclamation by the city of Newport Beach that same year in recognition of his service to Orange County business and the general community. Just this past September, sister publication, Real Estate Forum, honored him in its 65 Industry Legends & Icons profile as part of its 65th anniversary issue in September.
Over the decades, Campbell volunteered thousands of hours to nonprofit organizations and community activities. He was an original member of the “Teahouse Gang,” a group of prominent commercial real estate professionals who recognized the need to do more for the local community. The group held their first annual charity event in 2001 to benefit KIDWORKS, a Santa Ana, CA-based nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and nurturing at-risk youth.
In 2002 the Teahouse Gang held a benefit that raised roughly $1 million for KIDWORKS. Campbell and the other Teahouse Gang members established the Building Block Foundation Fund, which supports programs that encourage at-risk, underprivileged but deserving youth in Orange County to achieve more rewarding lifestyles. Campbell was honored for his leadership with this organization in 2005 by the Orange County United Way, which presented him with the Dan Donahue Award at its annual Keeping Kids on Track luncheon.
In 2007, Campbell was recognized for turning “real estate success” into “real success for at-risk youth” with the Keys to Success Award. The award is presented each year by Project Access, a nonprofit organization that assists residents of low-income housing apartment communities with achieving self-sufficiency through access to onsite health, education and social services. The organization was founded in 1999 by Foundation for Social Resources, a nonprofit provider of affordable housing in California.
Campbell was born on Sept. 5, 1940, in Oakland, CA, and received his bachelor of science degree in engineering from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA. He is also a two-time graduate of UCLA’s business school with a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in business administration. Both degrees were earned while working as a research analyst for Planning Research Corp. and as an assistant professor at California State University, Los Angeles.
Continue Reading for Free
Register and gain access to:
- Breaking commercial real estate news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical coverage of the property casualty insurance and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, PropertyCasualty360 and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com and GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
