We sat at a table overlooking the Mediterranean Sea as the French Riviera sun danced on the water, gratefully reflecting on the lives we had built in real estate. It’s a memory I return to now that John Aaroe is gone.
In that moment, surrounded by the people we cared about, John wasn’t a “power broker” – he was just a man deeply in love with real estate and its people.
John Aaron
John Aaroe was a rare breed in Beverly Hills. In an industry often defined by “takers,” John was a ruthless giver.
Although his portfolio contained household names and monumental estates that everyone recognized, that was not the John Aaroe I knew. He was humble to the core.
In an age of digital vanity, you won’t see John posting curated selfies or bragging about his latest deals. He let his work and his character do the talking.
He led with a decisive hand, but always from a serving position. He took advantage of the opportunities not only for himself, but also for the people around him.
He was a personal and professional confidante. He respected the profession of journalism and was one of my most trusted sources. He didn’t just give me the “what”; he gave me the “why” of what was really happening in the market and the motivations of the people behind it.
I was fortunate enough to speak with him regularly toward the end of his life. We lived in a world of long voicemails and constant texts — a back-and-forth rhythm that I’ve come to cherish.
There was something about his voice – warm, soothing and incredibly steady – that could set off a chaotic day.
His life was beautiful, fascinating and certainly complicated at times, as all extraordinary lives are. But despite all the noise of the high-stakes real estate world, his grace never wavered.
Most of all, I will be forever grateful for the way John treated my wife Yaz. He was kind and supportive; they had a special bond.
Every time we saw him, he would bring Yaz a box of chocolates.
John Aaroe was more than a colleague; he was an exceptional person. Our industry’s skyline feels a little emptier without him, and I will miss him dearly.
Email Brad Inman
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