This article appear[ed] in Today's Houston Chronicle: July 2, 2002, 10:39PM

Malcolm Gluckman, real estate executive

By LYNNWOOD ABRAM
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

Malcolm Clive Gluckman, executive of a Houston real estate firm who was active in civic and charitable causes, died Saturday [June 29, 2002] in a local hospital seven months after receiving a liver transplant. He was 37.

The transplant was needed because Gluckman suffered from a rare liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Of unknown origin, PSC targets people in Gluckman's age group. It also is associated with ulcerative colitis, which Gluckman contracted as a teenager.

A transplant is an option when medical treatment no longer controls PSC. In Gluckman's case, a transplant was indicated, but it took 2 1/2 years before a donor could be found. Last December, Gluckman finally received his transplant.

A dreaded complication ensued: infection with cytomegalovirus, a major cause of death in organ transplant recipients.

Gluckman's mother, Shirley Cohn, described her son's fortitude during the final months of his life.

"It was like fire after fire. One day a fire was put out; the next day there was another fire. He had multiple operations, procedures and biopsies, but he never complained. He was unbelievably stoic," she said.

Gluckman's father, Harold Gluckman, said that shortly before his son's death, a doctor asked Malcolm how he was feeling. He answered: "Just fine."

A native of South Africa who came with his family to the United States 25 years ago, Gluckman graduated in 1983 with honors from St. John's School. In 1988 he earned a degree in finance and real estate from the University of Texas.

A devoted sportsman, Gluckman was an "A" team soccer player at St. John's and UT.

Months after graduating from UT, Gluckman joined the Houston branch of the CB Richard Ellis real estate firm. Last year, while suffering from his illness, he became one of the branch's top 10 producers and was promoted to vice president.

"During the last couple of years, he had carved out a niche for himself in the investment sales arena, specializing in medical offices, and was recognized as one of the top medical building specialists in the city," said Elke Laughlin, marketing director for the firm.

A week after receiving his transplant, Laughlin said, Gluckman was working from his hospital bed on real estate deals.

In Gluckman's memory, the CB Richard Ellis firm will hold a blood drive Tuesday [July 9th, 2002] to replace the many units of plasma that Gluckman received during his treatment at St. Luke's, Laughlin said.

Gluckman's community work included duty with Big Brothers Big Sisters and delivering food to homebound people in the Meals on Wheels program. Gluckman also served on the boards of the American Liver Foundation and the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee.

He leaves his parents, Shirley Cohn of Houston and Harold Gluckman of McAllen; and sisters, Gail Gluckman of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Lynn Chorn of Santa Monica, Calif.

Services were held Monday [July 1st, 2002].