RICHARD A. SERBIN passed away on September 16, 2007 in Houston, Texas following a lengthy illness. Richard was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 21, 1942 to Lillian and Jacob Serbin. He attended Germantown High School in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania State University. Richard began his professional career in Philadelphia as a computer systems engineer with IBM and Getty Oil. He subsequently became a Computer Systems Manager for Narricot Industries. In 1969, Richard founded Gargoyles, Ltd., an architectural antiques purveyor firm located in the Society Hill District of Philadelphia. He expanded this business in 1972 to add Clerestory, a fine arts gallery off Rittenhouse Square. Richard moved to Houston in 1976 to expand his architectural antiques business. An entrepreneur embracing a variety of interests, Richard founded Texas Commercial Brokers, an investment and management firm, in 1985. Through Texas Commercial Brokers, Richard played an instrumental role in the revitalization of the Rice Village commercial area. Richard was an exemplary citizen embracing community service and volunteerism. He was awarded the 2006 Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the year award for his extensive civic contributions. He served nearly 20 years as a volunteer fireman in the Southside Place Volunteer Fire Department. Richard was instrumental in helping to make the Southside Place Volunteer Fire Department the exceptional organization it is today- with an ISO ranking in the top 3% of all volunteer fire departments nationwide. Southside Place's most recent fire truck acquisition, Engine 1, is dedicated to Engineer Richard Serbin. Richard was famous in the City of Southside Place for his role in originating and authoring articles for the City's first community newsletter, The Southside Scoop. Richard promoted the newsletter as a vehicle for communicating the inside scoop on activities throughout the City and at City Hall, while encouraging citizen involvement. He also served as Chairman of the City of Southside Place Planning and Zoning Commission in 2000. Richard was passionate about learning and worldwide travel. He will be sorely missed by his many friends and relatives worldwide for his keen mind, ready wit and strongly held opinions. Richard is survived by his wonderful wife of 25 years, Susan Richardson Serbin, his children: Guy Serbin of Silver Spring, Maryland, Ariel Serbin of Philadelphia, Jane Serbin and Caroline Serbin of Houston, and his brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Stephen and Victoria Serbin and nephews of Columbia, SC. The family expresses their appreciation for the thoughtfulness and care provided to Richard by his doctors and the staff at M. D. Anderson, especially Dr. Kantamgin, Dr. Hagop Kantarjian, Dr. Charles Koller, Chrissy Valdez, and all of their respective staffs. Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 17, 2007 at 4 p.m. at the Congregation Emanuel, 1500 Sunset Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77005. Interment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Pineville, Louisiana on Tuesday, Sept.18, 2007. Memorials may be made to Landmark School, Prides Crossing, MA 01965, or to the Jewish National Fund for purchase of trees in the Holy Land in Richard's memory.