Bob Bruss passed away this week, on Wednesday. If you’re a regular reader of your local real estate section, you probably have read Bob’s work many times.

Bob was one of the great real estate writers, using his experiences as a real estate attorney, property investor, teacher and real estate broker to infuse his columns with a dose of reality. He hailed from Edina, MN, and often wrote about his hometown.

He was smart and he really cared about his readers. He felt an obligation to provide them with the best information and always looked at new technology and trends with an eye toward how it would help consumers.

He was unfailingly polite, a true gentleman. He was kind in his reviews of my books, but was also kind when he explained why he wouldn’t review the 3rd edition of my 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask book (he said it wouldn’t be fair when he had reviewed the two previous editions and there were so many new titles out). He was nice to everyone.

I first met Bob at a meeting for the National Association of Real Estate Editors nearly 20 years ago. I last saw him in early August, at the most recent Inman Connect, in San Francisco. He looked great, despite walking slowly from a recent surgery, and said he’d see me at the National Association of Realtors conference in the fall, or perhaps at the next Inman Connect, in NY.

He won’t be there. And, we will miss him very much.

Sept. 30, 2007.