Barrett was president of the Putnam County Association of Realtors in 2008, a year before PCAR’s merger with the Westchester County Board of Realtors.
“This partnership will allow us to empower strong independent brokerages and broker-owner entrepreneurs around the world who are Affiliates under Christie's International Real Estate.”
The firm is “built by agents, for agents. Our mission is to provide real estate professionals with the mentorship, tools, and culture they need to thrive.”
Barrett was president of the Putnam County Association of Realtors in 2008, a year before PCAR’s merger with the Westchester County Board of Realtors.
The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors regrets to inform its membership of the passing of a veteran Realtor and a true icon in the Putnam County real estate market, Eileen M. Barrett. The Poughquag resident passed away on Friday, Nov. 29 at the age of 74 after a battle with cancer.
Barrett was president of the Putnam County Association of Realtors in 2008, a year before PCAR’s merger with the Westchester County Board of Realtors to become the Westchester-Putnam Association of Realtors in 2009, the predecessor to the current Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors.
The affable Barrett was a consummate professional. In addition to her many awards for her work as a Realtor, Barrett was heavily involved in advocacy and civic affairs with PCAR, WPAR, HGAR and the New York State Association of Realtors and local organizations.
HGAR Commercial Investment Division President Clayton Livingston said of Barrett: “Eileen was one of the hardest working agents and was a knowledge bank for rules and regulations. She was a stickler for: ‘if you do it right, it will be right.’”
Colleague and friend Diane Cummins said of Barrett: “Eileen was a truly gifted Realtor. She took pride in every transaction and received joy by the knowledge and care that she gave to each client. We travelled much of the world together from the back street markets of Istanbul to Paris, Rome, Ireland, Mexico and of course Bulgaria where we lectured at a real estate conference together.
The 2014 HGAR President added, “Eileen was just as gifted a friend, always giving, caring and sharing. Truly one of a kind both personally and professionally.”
Barrett’s professional designations and awards are almost too long to list. She earned the CRS, Certified Residential Specialist; SRES, Senior Real Estate Specialist; CRP, Certified Relocation Specialist and MRP, Military Relocation Professional designations and was a member of the New York State Realtor's Honor Society in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Barrett served as President of the Putnam County Association of Realtors in 2008; Vice President Woman's Council of Realtors – Putnam, 2007 and was a Certified Instructor by New York State for real estate courses.
She consistently ranked in the top 1% of Realtors in Putnam County. She was a member of the Real Estate Business Networking Group Member of Westchester-Putnam MLS and served as Mid Hudson MLS President. She also worked as an Instructor - Orientation and Ethics for Board of Realtors 2001-2008; Instructor- Real Estate Licensing Course and served on the state level for– Education & Communications. Barrett was a featured speaker at the National Conference on Real Estate in Bulgaria 2008 and also attended the CEREAN Conference on Real Estate 2008.
Her industry-related awards included: Houlihan Lawrence Emerald Award (most units sold) – 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007; Houlihan Lawrence Branch Top Producer (Brewster) – 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007; Houlihan Lawrence Spirit Award (Brewster) – 2003/04; Coldwell Banker Elite Top Agent - 1999-2003: Board of Realtors President Award – 2002 and the Carmel Rotary Award for Service above Self.
Her civic affiliations included being a member of Carmel Rotary and representing the real estate profession as President of the Carmel Rotary 2000-2001. She was also a past Board of Director of the Putnam United Way, was a member of the Carmel-Kent Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Carmel Ladies Aux. of the VFW.
Barrett was born in the Bronx on Oct. 10, 1950. Born to Eleanor and James Kane; she grew up the oldest of four, with three dear younger siblings Bernadette, Kathleen & James (Jim).
She grew up on Parkview Avenue in the Bronx and spent her summers and weekends in the Lake Baldwin neighborhood of Mahopac. She graduated from Assisium Business School for Women.
Barrett began her professional career traveling into Manhattan doing secretarial work at companies such as Price Waterhouse, Coca-Cola and with the New York Archdiocese.
In her early 20s, she accepted the marriage proposal of Kevin Barrett, another Bronx/Mahopac native whom she had grown up with. In 1972 they were married and began their young lives in Lake Baldwin, in a one room shanty with an outhouse.
Eileen and Kevin grew their family and eventually settled in Stormville, where they built their dream home in 1987. She devoted her life to raising three children and balancing part time jobs to give her family everything they could ever want or need. She taught driver’s ed with Jerry’s Driving School at JFK High School, was a US Census worker, waitressed at the Briar Patch at Carmel Bowling Alley and looked after the children of friends, all before finding her true passion in life, real estate.
In real estate, she found a way to combine her talents with all of her passions (her love of her community, helping young families, and being an advocate for new homeowners as they navigate the biggest financial decision in their lives). Barrett began with Lifestyles in Lake Carmel and spent time at Prudential World Homes, Coldwell Banker and Houlihan Lawrence before finally finding her favorite professional home at Keller Williams in Hopewell Junction. The professionals and co-workers that Eileen met throughout Dutchess and Putnam became her lifelong friends and those relationships are where she found some of her greatest joy. Barrett was one of the area’s most successful and sought after Realtors, winning countless awards and recognitions over her 30-year career.
She also volunteered her time and love of her community as a Carmel Rotarian, where she was a former president and Rotarian of the Year. Eileen especially loved helping young leaders develop through the RYLA program and always lived the Rotary motto “Service Above Self.’ Barrett also spent many years volunteering her expertise to the Putnam Emergency Services Safety Advisory Board.
It is difficult to sum up Barret’s 74 years by just listing a few of her tremendous accolades and accomplishments. What her friends and family will remember her for the most is the love she gave, the loyalty she displayed and the devotion to help others that guided her every day.
She is survived by sisters Bernadette (husband William) and Kathleen (husband Dennis) and sister-in-law Heidi. Eileen unfortunately lost her younger brother Jim earlier in 2024.
Eileen is survived by her three children. Her oldest daughter Jeannine and son-in-law Lewis, as well as son Jason and wife Jennifer, have been blessed that their children Taylor (18), Riley (15), Jackson (6) and Lilly (3) were able to know and love a grandmother who so absolutely adored them. She was blessed with countless nieces and nephews who also brightened her life with great nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.
Barrett was able to remain a very strong and independent woman on her own for the past 20+ years. She worked tirelessly to put three kids through college and leave behind a legacy that we are all so very proud of. She will be missed as a dedicated member of her community, an inspirational professional and a beloved friend, sister, mother, aunt and grandmother.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to one of these organizations in Eileen's name: Carmel Rotary, Keller Williams Cares, Beekman Library, and Sparrow Nest.
Visitation will be held today (Dec. 4) at the Cargain Funeral Homes Inc. 10 Fowler Ave., Carmel from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. at St. James the Apostle Church in Carmel. Following Mass, she will be escorted to her final resting place for entombment in Rose Hills Memorial Park in Putnam Valley.
“This partnership will allow us to empower strong independent brokerages and broker-owner entrepreneurs around the world who are Affiliates under Christie's International Real Estate.”
The firm is “built by agents, for agents. Our mission is to provide real estate professionals with the mentorship, tools, and culture they need to thrive.”
“Homebuying momentum is building after nearly two years of suppressed home sales,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.
Most of the counties in the HGAR market area are considered “high-cost areas” by the FHFA.
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