Real estate developer R. John Punnett died on June 6 at his home in Manhattan. He was 89.
Born in Zemun, Yugoslavia, on February 8, 1927, to Tamara Gert and Royal Air Force pilot Schuyler Punnett, he and his sister Lydia were raised first in Greece, and later moved to Nantes, France, where they lived during the German occupation. Being fluent in English, French and Russian, he joined the RAF at age 17 and was stationed in Cairo and in Baghdad working in the intelligence division. At the end of the war he was granted a full scholarship to attend the University of Cambridge, where he earned a bachelor’s in Russian literature. In 1956 he joined his sister in New York, where he remained throughout his life. With a loan from his mother, in 1962 he began a career in real estate founding Punnett Realty Company, eventually owning and managing up to 30 buildings largely in the Yorkville neighborhood.
Always dressed in his trademark English suits, Mr. Punnett was extremely respected in his field and known by everyone as a true gentleman, survivors said. This was reflected in the fact that most of his employees had been with him for several decades. His work ethic was inspiring to many. Rarely taking a day off, he continued to go to his office until recently.
There were few things Mr. Punnett enjoyed more than spending time with his numerous friends and growing family, and he described his six grandchildren as his “brood.” He was most at peace in his Southampton home, where he maintained a residence for more than four decades.
He was predeceased by a sister, Lydia Wasserman. He is survived by his wife, Carol; a son, Anthony; daughters, Dominique and Daniela; and grandchildren, Tatiana, Alexi, Kayden, Lucas, Olivia and Alexandra.
A funeral was held at Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton on June 11.
Memorial donations may be made to the R. John Punnett Foundation, 107 Lee Avenue, Southampton, NY 11968.
on Jun 13, 2016