In Memoriam: Longtime Realtor Michael Schmelzer Passes Away at 83

 The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors regrets to inform its membership of the passing of longtime Realtor and real estate executive Michael Schmelzer. He passed away recently at the age of 83 in Boca Raton, FL.

Schmelzer was born on April 11, 1940, and was the founder of Tryax Realty Management Inc. of The Bronx. He had been a member of the Realtor association in The Bronx for more than half a century and was a past president of The Bronx-Manhattan Association of Realtors. Schmeltzer was a strong advocate for advancing Realtor Issues. In 2002, Schmelzer was inducted into NAR’s RPAC Hall of Fame. Out of the 1,845 Hall of Fame members, he stands as the second-highest investor at the $150,000 level.

In 2018, The Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors, (BMNAR), bestowed Tryax Realty with its Heritage Award. BMNAR CEO Eli Rodriguez noted at the time that the firm under Schmelzer’s leadership, had been active in the development of high-quality, middle-income housing since the early 1970s. Among its other accomplishments, Tryax was one of the earliest companies selected to participate in the Private Ownership Management Program (POMP), where they renovated and restored more than 1,500 residential units in cooperation with a few city agencies.

Schmelzer’s accomplishments and commitment to the real estate industry included serving multiple terms on the National Association of Realtors Board of Directors and its Executive Committee. He also chaired NAR’s Federal Housing Policy Committee, the Political Appointment Task Force, and the Insurance Task Force. He chaired the Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) in 1989. In 1991, Schmelzer chaired the association’s Legislative Committee and in 1992, he served as Committee Liaison to NAR’s Government and Political Relations Group. He also has served as NAR’s regional vice president for the states of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and vice president of NAR in 1998 and 2003. Schmelzer was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award in 1999. He was also selected as one of the 25 most influential Realtors in America.

At the state level, Schmelzer was named the Realtors Active in Politics Member of the Year in 1991. He served as president of the New York State Association of Realtors in 1983 and was chosen “Realtor of the Year” by the state association in 1987. He chaired the state Realtors Political Action Committee and Legislative Committee. At the local level, Schmelzer was president of the Bronx Board of Realtors in 1975 and 1976. He was honored as local “Realtor of the Year” in 1975 and 1977.

Schmelzer served on the New York Secretary of State’s real estate advisory panel and the governor’s task force on mortgage banking. He was a member of the executive committee of the Rent Stabilization Association (RSA) and was a director of the Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB). Schmelzer was a member of President Clinton’s HUD lead-based paint task force, Governor Cuomo’s advisory council on lead poisoning prevention, and Mayor Dinkin’s lead paint advisory committee. He served in the Village of Kensington’s Zoning Appeals Board and its Architectural Review Board. Schmelzer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from New York University.

Schmelzer was one special Realtor and a wonderful person. He will never be forgotten. Funeral services were held on March 3 at the Gutterman Warheit Memorial Chapel in Boca Raton, FL.