Andrew Melnick Remembered

Andrew Melnick, a longtime Tribeca real estate broker with Tabak Is Tribeca, died suddenly on Thursday, July 15, at age 65. Melnick was also known to many for his years of coaching Downtown Soccer League and Downtown Little League teams, and for his 11 years of service on the soccer league board. His wife Debbie and sons Adam and Jason survive him. 

Following are remembrances by the three people who worked with Melnick: Jeffrey Tabak, James Attard and Heidi Schaffer. Other comments are also shared. The Trib welcomes all comments. Write to editor@tribecatrib.com.

Jeffrey Tabak

I had the pleasure of working with Andrew since the late 1980's. Together we took a small start up company and built a brand. We worked tirelessly in Brooklyn Heights and then in the early 1990's in Tribeca. 

Andrew was a great broker, with a long list of devoted clients, many of them for decades.

People trusted him, liked him, they enjoyed working with him and they came back time and time again to list rentals, sales and commercial spaces. He was well liked by brokers as well and the outpouring of sympathy and lovely sentiments has been heartwarming. He coached soccer and little league where his sons played ball. He himself loved sports and he was involved in a local basketball league. We sat a few feet from each other for over 30 years, and we worked together really well. He was warm, kind, easy going and devoted. Devoted to Debbie, Jason and Adam.  Devoted to his profession and he was a really great guy. I can't imagine what Tribeca looks like without him,  I can’t imagine what my office will feel like without him....He was a part of the fabric and now there is a hole...I really miss him.... 

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James Attard

When I first started working with Andrew about 16 year ago, I was shocked with how many people in the neighborhood that he knew. As we sat in our storefront office, he would look up, smile and wave to what seemed like 1/3 of the people that went by. I quickly realized that Tribeca was a community unmatched by any other neighborhood and Andrew had deep roots that connected him with so many. Bonds that were formed not only as a real estate broker, but as a coach, a friend, a managing agent and his overall involvement in the community. He would tell me countless stories about developers, clients and brokers that told the story of how Tribeca was made. There were transactions that were sometimes (okay rarely) easy, and sometimes challenging and it was his ability to make things right at the end of the day that was unmatched. It was this balance that made work enjoyable and kept him on his toes.

Often brokers are painted with the same brush and in it for themselves, but this wasn't Andrew’s agenda. He often gave advice that went against his financial interests—sometimes working pro bono for families in need or advising his landlord clients to take lesser rent in a renewal as there is value in the continuity and relationship already established. Andrew had a lot of morals and always felt that developing relationships was a priority. It was this loyalty that he earned and valued back and these relationships that defied the stereotypes that are associated with real estate brokers. 

As a 21 year old just finishing up college, I didn't know how much value I could add or much I could have in common with someone 28 years my senior. I helped him transition from his flip phone to an iPhone, helped him transition from AOL to Gmail and how to create Word/ PDF files. In turn, he taught me how to use a fax machine and teach me about Tribeca and some Yiddish words...but more importantly he taught me how to do what's right, how to be a friend, how to be a husband and how to be a father— but not by telling me, but instead leading by example. It was the unlikeliest partnership that would develop over time and after a few years, we became family. Family...something that resonated with the sentiments shared by everyone that knew him. These weren't JUST clients, they were family.

One of the hardest things I've had to do in life was to tell his family, made up of clients and brokers, that he had left us. Even though he wasn't able to say goodbye, it's okay as I knew that goodbyes were never easy for him. I guess it's not really goodbye when my memories of him and his lessons will stay with me forever. I want to thank Andrew for being who he was as I feel he has made me a better person, and made the community better as well. Tribeca lost a mensch. 

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Heidi Schaffer

I first met Andrew in 1994 when I came to work for Tabak Real Estate.  To say that we went through a lot over the years is an understatement. Andrew had a very easy going attitude that drew people to him both professionally and personally. His easy going attitude did not prevent Andrew from being an extremely successful and well respected broker. Andrew was there for me both on a professional and personal level. He sat less than 6 feet away from me and when he would hear me sighing about something, he would always take the time to listen to whatever I had to say, lighten the mood, and then we would go back to our respective work. I was always in awe to see throughout the years his dedication to his work, his family, the Tribeca Community, and his clients.

Andrew was a kind, generous, funny and overall remarkable man. He will be deeply missed. My love and prayers go out to his family and all of the people who were touched just by knowing him.

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I’m stunned to discover about Andrew’s death. A more likable and  wonderful person I’d be hard pressed to find.  Always a smile, always a pleasure to talk to and always kind.  Another wonderful family man and total mensch lost. 

He’d come into the Balloon Saloon hoping to find some chocolate to satiate his sweet tooth and thru the 20 years of knowing him we always had something yummy to share with him.  But, nothing could be more sweet than his kind soul. We will sadly miss him, his rubber band ball, his smiles and his gentle demeanor.  I’m so lucky to have known him and been touched by his warm heart. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family who he always revered, Debbie, his wife, and sons Jason and Adam.  — Sharon Hershkowitz

I am so heartbroken hearing about Andrew. I wasn’t at all ready to receive that phone call. I’ve known Andrew for 20 years, and in that time, I was lucky enough to see the true definition of a family man, hard worker, and kind soul. We shared many laughs through the years, discussed the latest delicious recipes we both mastered, told lots of family stories—as his family was the most important thing to him, and he always knew he could come into my store to satisfy his sweet tooth. Leftover Valentine’s Day chocolates were always saved for him! 

My heart goes out to his wife, children, colleagues, friends, and family (which to Andrew, were all one and the same), and I hope they can find even just a little morsel of comfort in knowing just how many lives he touched and made better with his optimistic personality and kind spirit. He was a person that was “all good”. Very special. He will be deeply missed. — Tiffany J. Hershkowitz

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My children and I always thought Andrew was one of the nicest men…happy go lucky and always with a warm smile. — Alice Hartman