On Wednesday, July 31, Robert L. Gruen of Potomac. A role model to real estate professionals, Gruen served as president of the Maryland Association of REALTORS® and Maryland’s Montgomery County Association of REALTORS® and as a board member of the National Association of REALTORS®. He worked for a number of real estate firms in the Washington, D.C., metro area before opening his own firm, Robert L. Gruen Realtors. He worked tirelessly to “turn houses into homes” and train the next generation of realtors. He never really retired. Gruen was born Aug. 24, 1927, in Atlantic City, N.J., and was the oldest son of Martin and Muriel Gruen. He graduated from Atlantic City High School and served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1952 aboard the USS Bushnell, the USS Astoria and the USS Kenneth D. Bailey, among other Navy vessels. He rose through the ranks to electrician’s mate, petty officer second class.
After completing his military service, he moved to Washington, D.C., with his high school sweetheart and wife, Deana Schiff Gruen (deceased in 1963), and attended George Washington University.
Gruen met his wife, Marcia Wineman Gruen, when she visited his real estate office to sell him specialty advertising items. They celebrated 34 years of marriage before his death.
He is the beloved husband of Marcia W. Gruen; devoted father of Barbara Gruen and Phyllis Weiss (Dr. Stephen); dear brother of Matthew and Dr. Harold Gruen; loved step-father of Mark Schwartz; cherished grandfather of Daniel and Jeffrey Weiss and Shane Schwartz. He also is survived by nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Memorial contributions may be made to JSSA Hospice, Rockville, MD or the American Heart Association. Arrangements by Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, Inc.
