LOS ANGELES-Martin Stolzoff, known to the industry as Marty, has passed away. He was 88. Stolzoff and his wife Barbara founded the Real Estate Conference Group more than 25 years ago and gave birth to the most popular conferences in the Los Angeles commercial real estate community. These premier events became part of the Real Share Conference Series when RECG was acquired by ALM’s Real Estate Media Group in 2005. Since their inception, what is now the RealShare Apartments Conference and the annual RealShare Real Estate Conference have drawn upwards of 1,300 attendees each.

Stolzoff practiced law in Beverly Hills, CA from 1947. A certified tax specialist, he headed a 20-person law firm. During these years, he was a Trustee of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, was chairman of the State Bar of California Committee on the Economics of the Practice of Law and was a member of the American Bar Association Committee on Real Estate and Taxation.

He lectured extensively on real estate and tax matters at the University of Southern California and other area institutes of higher education. He also wrote extensively on his those twin areas of expertise. He wrote the chapter on buying real estate for the California Continuing Education of the Bar publication. He also helped write the Commerce Clearing House book on Federal Taxation.

In 1985 he created the UCLA Real Estate Forecast, the same year he and Barbara formed RECG, which produced more than 50 real estate conferences, primarily in California. In 1988 Marty and Barbara created the USC LUSK Center Real Estate Conference.

“Marty was a true pioneer, not only in Southern California but for the national real estate community, anyone who has ever attended an industry conference," reflected Michael G. Desiato, vice president and group publisher of ALM’s Real Estate Media Group. “We had a warm personal and professional relationship that spanned nearly two decades. From the beginning, he challenged me every day about how to produce the most entertaining and informative show, and 'finish on time.' He was my compass, always making sure our attendees had a great experience and his mandate continues to this day. I will forever have gratitude and devotion to Marty for advising me to do 'the right thing.' He will be missed."