- Date Of Birth: October 2, 1924
- Date Of Death: September 30, 2012
- State: New Jersey
Byron Kotzas, owner of Crossroads Realty died on September 30th, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness at Community Medical Center, Toms River, NJ. He was 87. Born in New York City on October 2, 1924, Kotzas graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh NY where he was the captain of the tennis team. After serving as a pilot in the Army Air Force from 1942 ??” 1945, he attended Drexel Institute of Technology, where he studied engineering.
He graduated from Rider College under the GI Bill with a degree in business and real estate. Byron moved with his family to Toms River in 1946 and purchased the Bay Bridge Inn which consisted of a hotel, bar, restaurant, clam bar and package store. Located at the base of the wooden bridge to Seaside, the Inn also had cabins for rent along with row boats and garveys for fishing. Kotzas founded Crossroads Realty in 1966.
The company went on to grow and flourish, becoming the largest residential real estate brokerage in Ocean County. Byron was also instrumental in promoting the development of the county for over 4 decades. He helped developers and investors to assemble parcels of land for adult communities, shopping centers, industrial parks and medical facilities. Not believing in retirement, he continued to work six days a week along with two of his sons who also work in the business.
It was at the Bay Bridge Inn that the Kotzas family first began their philanthropic endeavors by hosting many fundraising benefits to help raise money for the first local hospital in the area, Community Medical Center, prior to the groundbreaking for the hospital. In addition to supporting the hospital, Kotzas has been a Trustee of Ocean County College Foundation for 30 years, served on the local Kiwanis and was on the fund raising committee of the Boys Scouts for 15 years.
He has also generously supported all of his wife, Mary’s philanthropic endeavors by financing both the Second Time Around Consignment Shop which raised money for the hospital and Charity Resale Shop which currently supports Ocean County Hunger Relief. Kotzas dedication and the energy he directed to his work were evident in the success of his real estate brokerage but his real pleasure came from helping others to start businesses and make profitable investments.
Having worked hard to become successful on his own, Byron was quick to share his knowledge and insights with anyone who asked for his help. His ability to mentor others in their careers has led to many success stories, both with real estate agents and local business people. Byron strongly believed that anyone who was willing to work hard could take advantage of the opportunities that he felt were all around and he was more than willing to help them. An avid tennis player and golfer, Byron also enjoyed boating and was an accomplished wood worker.
He is survived by his wife of 63 ½ years, Mary, his sons, Stephen and his wife Chetra, George and Mark and a daughter Linda, along with four grandsons, Greg and his partner Leslie Harker, Warren and his wife Genevieve, also along with Stavros and Nicholas Basis who are the sons of his nephew Theo Basis and his wife Jane as well as a niece Anita Mengason and nephew Jim Mengason.
