11/25/2024
A SOLEMN ANNOUNCEMENT
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the peaceful passing of the founder and Broker of Estep Realty Service, James F. Estep, Jr. Bound to a wheelchair for over fifty years of his life, at the age of 77, Jim’s physical body ultimately gave out – but rest assured, his keen intellect was fully engaged and intact up until the very end.
After various business ventures and steeped in his dissatisfaction of serving as an agent under another broker, Jim founded Estep Realty Service on March 19, 1997. Jim astutely identified a key niche in the Ebensburg market, artfully garnering the specific knowledge and experience gained as visionary and co-developer of Hills Plaza on Route 22 and aptly applying that to the field of commercial real estate -- in retrospect, a rather bold move for a paraplegic. But anyone who knew Jim would know that he never used the word “paraplegic” – actually, never, EVER, used his disability or the frequent pain he endured as an excuse for anything. For that, he will always be remembered as an extremely positive yet independent, persistent, and sometimes rather stubborn human being. In many ways, his stubbornness was the driving force for his never quitting or giving up, even when things got rather difficult. Needless to say, Jim will be sadly missed by many, both personally and professionally.
In accordance with PA real estate law, a broker will be appointed to wind down the activities of Estep Realty Service over the coming months. Doug Tusing, long-time Associate Broker working side by side with Jim, will be in contact with all clients to provide additional details and direction with regard to the “next step” in the process going forward.
