Real Estate Executive Developed Properties
Monday, February 9, 2009
Harvey R. Coleman, 81, a retired real estate executive, developer and investor, died Feb. 3 at Gilchrist Hospice Center
in Baltimore of complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was a former Bethesda resident.
Mr. Coleman started out in television after World War II, when he joined the staff of WTTG-TV, the DuMont Television
Network's flagship station in the District. He first worked as an engineer and a cameraman for DuMont, the world's first
commercial TV network, and later worked as a producer and director. He also worked as an account executive for the
station's advertising operation.
In the mid-1950s, Mr. Coleman got involved in real estate. He began with a Washington area commercial and residential
builder, Thomas H. Ryon Co., and then developed a number of large-scale commercial, office and multifamily projects
in 20 states and the Washington area. His projects included Bethesda's first high-rise, the Montgomery Building.
For eight years prior to his retirement, he was a partner and officer for First Equities Corp., a large real estate
development and investment firm based in Atlanta. He retired in 1988.
Harvey Ryon Coleman was born in the District, graduated from Western High School in 1944 and attended George
Washington University, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity.
During World War II, he served as a radio officer in the Merchant Marine and during the Korean War served in the
Army, primarily with the Signal Corps detachment at the White House during the Truman and Eisenhower
administrations.
Mr. Coleman was a former member of Congressional Country Club, Kenwood Country Club and Valley Country Club in
Timonium. He also was a member of the Georgetown Big Brothers Club and was a past president of the Georgetown
Kiwanis Club.
In Cambridge, Md., where he lived from 1988 to 1999, he was a member of the Cambridge Yacht Club and the
Cambridge Country Club.
His marriage to Dorothy F. Coleman ended in divorce.
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Charmie M. Coleman of Timonium; two children from his first marriage, Lauren C.
Swanson of Coon Rapids, Minn., and Thomas R. Coleman of Bensalem, Pa.; two stepdaughters from his second
marriage, Bonita W. Hale of Glen Arm, Md., and Charmie W. Flora of Towson; three sisters, Julie W. Wood and Martha
W. Tappan, both of Bethesda, and Linda W. White of Fort Mill, S.C.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
-- Joe Holley