Two highly respected figures in our real estate community passed this week. Claude J. Thomas II, founder of DC-based firm TPSI, was 58. He started the company in 1993, coming in with four years of real estate experience and a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas. TPSI is recognized for excellence in managing multimillion-dollar construction and providing consulting and mechanical remediation. Claude was a member of DCBIA, BOMA, and CREW, and served on the board of directors of the Jubilee Support Alliance, to which his family invites well-wishers to make donations in his name.

The real estate community also mourns the loss of Concord Eastridge co-founder Jeff Arnold (pictured above right with Perseus Realty president Bob Cohen and Reznick Group founder Dave Reznick). Jeff started the development company with wife Susan in 2004 and was in the industry for more than 30 years. He had a bachelor’s from Wesleyan and a Wharton MBA. His family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Jeff’s name to the Southwest Autism & Research Center.