In Memoriam: Veteran Realtor, Association Executive Don Cummins III

The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors regrets to inform its membership of the tragic passing of real estate veteran, HGAR member, association executive and attorney Don Cummins III on Friday, Sept. 1 at the age of 54.

Cummins was previously the Team Leader at Keller Williams Realty Partners of Baldwin Place and formerly served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Columbia Greene Board of Realtors and CEO of the Columbia Greene Northern Dutchess Multiple Listing Service. A well-known and well-liked Realtor, association executive and real estate instructor, Cummins served as the CEO of the Columbia Greene Board of Realtors from June 2019 until recently.

Prior to those positions, Cummins was hired as in-house legal counsel at the Westchester-Putnam Association of Realtors and assisted in the merger of the Orange County Association of Realtors and the Rockland County Board of Realtors into what would become the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. He then served as HGAR’s Director of Legal Services and Professional Standards until July 2015 when he was named manager of Coldwell Banker’s Yorktown Office.

At HGAR, Cummins was responsible for administering the professional standards and grievance proceedings for the entire lower Hudson Valley region, as well as providing legal counsel for the association and multiple listing service system.

A licensed attorney, Cummins had an extensive legal and real estate background. He began his legal career as the Fellowship Law Clerk to Chief Judge Michael Mukasey, U.S. Attorney General and then went on to join one of New York City’s premiere Antitrust and Corporate Litigation law firms. Later, he opened his own legal practice in Westchester and Putnam counties and during that time he was the lead instructor and chair of the Education Committee of the former Putnam County Association of Realtors and was an instructor for the New York State Association of Realtors. His legal practice specialized in legal issues, will, trusts and estates and general litigation. He was named PCAR’s Man of the Year in 2008.

A Celebration of Don’s life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 22 Mayfair Lane in Mahopac from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.