More than 400 agents, brokers and clients gathered at Miami Beach real estate agent Darin Tansey’s celebration of life on Wednesday morning, including Tansey’s closest friends and industry colleagues.
Tansey, a top agent at Douglas Elliman with a huge reach, died unexpectedly last week of a heart attack at the age of 50. He mentored dozens of agents over his nearly 20-year career in Miami real estate, and worked on new developments that included the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach, where he lived.
Tansey is survived by his brother Jerry Tansey and his family, as well as extended family who include his cousin Bryan Tansey. His cousin said he was heartened to see the “turnout and the love” at the celebration of life.
“We did everything together, but I’m learning now there’s so much he did that I had no idea about,” he said.
Tansey died of a heart attack, his cousin said. His funeral and burial will be in his hometown of Burlington, Iowa.
Jay Parker, CEO of Douglas Elliman Florida; Michael Liebowitz, CEO of Douglas Elliman; Elliman agent Chris Wands; Tansey’s associate, Lynna Weil; and others gave speeches about Tansey to a packed room at La Gorce Country Club in Miami Beach.
“The fact there are so many people here to celebrate his life does not surprise me one bit at all. Darin brought people together and left an impression and an imprint on everyone and everywhere he went,” Wands said. “When I think about Darin, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t just his success, his reputation or his color-coded suits in his closet, or the career he built. It’s the way he changed lives, mine included.”
Among those who attended were Compass agent Nancy Batchelor; Julian Johnston and Eloy Carmenate from the Corcoran Group; The Agency’s Sharon Beck; and Elliman agents Michael and Jaimee Light, Marc Brandt, David Siddons and Dina Goldentayer.
Weil, Tansey’s executive assistant, joked that Tansey loved three things: “work, wine and beautiful women.”
“Darin had this incredible ability to find your strength immediately. He didn’t focus on what we lacked, he focused on what we have,” she said. “He carried himself with poise, sophistication and honor, and he cheered for everyone’s success as though his very own and in an industry where that is so rare.”
Many spoke about their close friendship with Tansey.
“Darin’s legacy is us, his family, friends, colleagues, business associates and our dear Vino [Tansey’s dog],” Parker said. “Let’s show Darin that his impact was powerful enough to cause us all to give a little more, love a little more and do the right thing, even when the alternative path is easier. You will be missed more than I could ever have imagined.”
Liebowitz, who took over as president and CEO of the brokerage last year, said Tansey “truly lived every day in a way that he really enjoyed himself.”
“It was the way he ate, the way he worked out, the way he did business, and the way he treated people. I never really ran into a person that had a negative thing to say about Darin, and that’s unusual,” Liebowitz said. “Usually when you’re at a memorial service, there’s something you want to joke around about that you could say that’s negative. I can’t come up with one.”
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Residential
South Florida
Douglas Elliman agent Darin Tansey dies at 50
