“Geraldine was
a lion chaser,
and a
great one.
For Ger, it did
not matter if
the lion ran
into a den, she
followed it right
in and would
come out
victorious. ”
Lori Greymont
Geraldine Barry, founder of SJREI, and Lori Greymont, who followed her footsteps as
the next President of the San Jose Real Estate Investors Association -- SJREI.
When I first learned of
Geraldine’s passing, it took at
least a day to fully comprehend
this enormous loss. Then, as her
passing was shared with her
community both here in the Bay
Area, across the United States,
and in Europe the outpouring
of love has been nothing short of
amazing. I personally have
received too many stories to
count from folks who just want
to share how deeply Geraldine
has impacted their lives.
My one life goal which I
carry with me always is to help
so many people through my
life’s work that when I am gone,
my children will never want for
a need. In her time on this earth,
Geraldine has given that very
gift to her children as everywhere
Ger went and worked, she
created a community of people
who could, in ways small and
large, in some way credit Ger
for some of their success. Ger’s
work as a catalyst and connector
for investors has also meant that
so many other people’s children
will never want for a need.
With the passing of someone
like Geraldine, I have lost a
great light in my life, the Bay
Area has lost a light, the world
of real estate investment has lost
a light...and the world has lost a
light. I have now spoken of the
hole created by Ger’s
passing...but now here is the
challenge:
It is up to each of us to
88
continue her work in paving the
way for women in real estate
investment and in traditionally
maledominated fields: to truly
honor her legacy, we must be
brave when we need to be, build
community when we can build it,
mentor when others need it, make
the introductions and connections
even when awkward, and go
boldly chasing those lions when
we think they’re worth chasing.
Personally, my challenge will
be to honor her legacy in how I
run SJREI with standards that
demand nothing less than best
and to always keep Geraldine as
my role model in how to love the
community of which I am apart.