John S. Baen, Ph.D.

April 9, 2024

Dr. John Baen, 75, a professor of real estate in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business at the University of North Texas (UNT) who was the mainstay of the UNT real estate program for close to 40 years, died April 9. He leaves behind a legacy of profound impact on his current and former students, colleagues and the real estate industry. He was deeply passionate about teaching, making a difference for his students and maintaining strong connections with industry. He mentored and stayed in touch with former students, many of whom became successful in the real estate industry.

Baen earned his Ph.D. in real estate from Texas A&M University in 1982 and joined UNT in 1985. He authored over 70 articles, five books and has served on the American Real Estate Society (ARES) as a representative and director of the International Real Estate Society, as well as the Texas Land and Minerals Association as a vice president from 2012-2013. He has lectured and delivered speeches in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Austria, Sweden, South Africa, South America and throughout the U.S. His work and views have received coverage in media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, USA Today, ABC News, and various national and regional newspapers. He was also the founder and principal of Baen and Company, which is an internationally recognized oil and gas valuation, lease negotiation, mineral management and expert witness firm.

Baen also was known for his deep love of family and boundless energy. He is survived by his four children: Hunter Wood Baen, Jennifer Joyce Baen, Jaxon Spencer Baen and Jaeger Roe Baen. Baen’s love for and knowledge of the great outdoors allowed him to travel widely and undertake many great adventures with his children. Baen most recently was very active in the lives of his youngest children, Jaxon and Jaeger, attending their numerous school activities and football games, while encouraging and developing their hobbies in hunting, chess and archery.

The official obituary can be viewed, and messages and condolences posted, here:

https://www.billdeberry.com/obituary/dr-john-baen-ii

C.F. Sirmans

March 25, 2024

A Pillar of Real Estate Education and Scholarship

The academic world recently bid farewell to an unparalleled figure in the realm of real estate studies, C.F. Sirmans. Known for his extraordinary influence and immense presence, C.F.’s contributions to the academic discipline of real estate have left an indelible mark that will resonate for generations to come.

Distinguished Career

C.F. Sirmans embarked on his illustrious academic journey with a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, continuing on to esteemed positions at the University of Illinois, University of Georgia again, Louisiana State University, University of Connecticut, and Florida State University. Along the way, there were also visiting positions at the Swedish School of Economics and Business, National University of Singapore, University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, and Brigham Young University. Following retirement from formal teaching and organizational roles, C.F. continued working with coauthors and serving as the editor of the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, underscoring a relentless commitment to advancing the field.

Shaping the Profession

A foundational aspect of C.F.'s career was his partnership with Jim Kau, which began at the University of Georgia. Starting as a young doctoral student, a collaboration blossomed that would span over five decades. Together, they co-edited the Journal of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association (now Real Estate Economics) and co-founded the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, both premier real estate journals. Their partnership also extended to the co-creation of the Journal of Real Estate Literature, a further testament to the profound impact this partnership would have on real estate academia.

C.F.'s tenure as editor for numerous journals, coupled with three seminal textbooks and edited series, significantly propelled the advancement of real estate scholarship, enriching the educational journey of students and providing invaluable resources for both industry professionals and academics. As a dissertation chair/advisor, C.F. trained several doctoral students and served as an informal mentor to countless others, fostering a legacy of scholarship and inquiry.

Research Contributions

With well over 300 publications, more than 17,000 citations, and an h-index above 70, C.F.’s productivity and influence in the field are unmatched. The breadth of C.F.'s research, from housing and land markets to REITs and property rights, consistently elevated the scholarly discourse in real estate. His work enriched the field with new theoretical models, empirical methods, and a profound understanding of real estate's unique market intricacies. Formal recognition of these contributions is evident in his receipt of the highest awards by both the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association and American Real Estate Society including the George F. Bloom Award (AREUEA 2001), the David Ricardo Medal (ARES 2006), and the Graaskamp Award (ARES 2012).

Talented Musician

One of C.F.'s most cherished passions was music, particularly his love for playing the guitar. This hobby was not just a pastime but a source of joy and celebration, shared with friends and family alike. His home boasted a collection of guitars, each with its own story, reflective of the happiness and connection music brought into his life. Playing the guitar was a way for C.F. to express his vibrant spirit and bring a sense of togetherness to those around him. In a final gesture that spoke volumes of his love, C.F. made sure each grandchild would inherit a guitar, passing on a piece of his joy and spirit to the next generation.

Man of Devotion

Beyond his professional achievements, C.F. Sirmans was a devoted family man and a person of deep faith. Alongside his wife Elaine, he was a guiding force in the lives of their six children and sixteen grandchildren, instilling in them values of kindness, determination, and service. His commitment to his faith led him to serve in numerous capacities within his church, where he and Elaine dedicated countless hours to supporting those in need, including, in recent years, running an addiction recovery program near their home. This unwavering dedication to family, faith, and community exemplified the depth of C.F.'s character. He will truly be missed.

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The official obituary can be viewed, and messages and condolences posted, here:
https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/tallahassee-fl/clemon-sirmans-11726899
or here:
https://www.relihanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/clemon-sirmans-jr

Andrew (Drew) Sanderford

September 5, 2023

Dear ARES Members,

It is with great sadness we inform you Andrew (Drew) Sanderford unexpectedly passed away this weekend. Drew’s kindness and compassion for others will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Drew was a tremendous scholar, an amazing instructor, and a truly wonderful human being. The loss to our community cannot be conveyed in words. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Gillie, his family, and all who mourn his loss.

We will share more information on ways to honor his memory and the potential of memorial services as they become available.

With gratitude for the life he lived and the moments I shared with him,

Dr. Spenser J. Robinson

Mike Clauretie

June 8, 2023

We would like to take a moment to celebrate the life lived of Mike Clauretie, one of our founding members.

Many of you will remember Mike Clauretie as a truly delightful man with a great sense of humor and a very friendly face to converse with at a reception or in the hospitality suite. That is certainly what I hold in my mind. I met him later in his career and his research was different from mine so we were rarely in the same sessions. But, it is clear he was also a truly gifted academic and successful expert witness/consultant. He was also a family man and today I was told he was great at the blackjack tables. He was honored this year with the Pioneer Award. Although he was too sick to attend the meetings this year he was pleased to receive this honor. He will be truly missed by many and I hope we can do something to honor his commitment and dedication to real estate education and research.

Remembering The Life of Terrance Clauretie

Tom Springer

April 27, 2022

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Dr. Tom Springer, long-time Secretary of the American Real Estate Society (ARES), suffered a fatal heart attack this past week.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be on May 2 at Southern Weslyan chapel in central SC and on May 4 on the Clemson campus. There will be a larger event in the Fall when a new building is dedicated on the Clemson campus.

A member of ARES since 1987, Tom was widely recognized as a thought leader in real estate long before he took on the position of ARES Secretary in 2004. As a member of the organization's leadership team for 16 years, Tom helped see ARES grow from less than 100 scholars to the leading real estate research and education organization globally. He was recognized with the ARES Distinguished Service Award in 2015 for “many years of exemplary service to ARES, and the willingness to take on multiple roles and responsibilities for the good of the organization.”

Tom earned his BS in Forestry from the University of Florida before heading north to earn his MBA from the University of Georgia. He then earned his Ph.D. in Real Estate from the University of Georgia and joined the faculty at Clemson University in 1988. From 1992 to 2005, his career took him to Florida Atlantic University where he was promoted to Associate Professor of Real Estate and later Professor. He then returned to Clemson in 2005, and later assumed the role of Associate Director of the Pennell Center for Real Estate Development from 2009-2013 helping to guide the development of the Master of Real Estate Development. Tom’s contributions to his profession covered the three major areas of academia: Research, Teaching, and Service. During his career, he published over 50 research articles and taught thousands of students. He also served on numerous journal editorial boards and college committees. However, thanks to his friendly demeanor, experienced wisdom, and helpful nature, one of Tom’s greatest contributions to his institutions and academia was his ability to mentor junior faculty members. He cared deeply and was always there to make sure faculty were treated fairly. Several words come to mind when thinking about Tom - a wicked sense of humor, a willingness to help with whatever he was asked to do, a compassionate heart for his family, friends, colleagues and students, and most importantly a true southern gentleman who never lost his cool. He was patient, kind and generous with his time and expertise.

Although he hated to fly, for over 30 years Tom was a fixture at any ARES or SFA meeting within a reasonable (and sometimes unreasonable) driving distance from his home. He always had a big smile on his face when he saw his colleagues from across the globe, and it was a genuine, goofy smile that made even the most introverted and unsure assistant professor want to visit with him. To many of us, he was also a co-author who worked hard on ideas and wrote well, but to all of us he was a friend who we will deeply miss.

Tom had just revised a submission to the Journal of Housing Research that had been accepted, and it will appear in a forthcoming issue with a special acknowledgement.