Thomas Nicholas Marudas, Baltimore harbor urban planner, dies

Yahoo

9 hours ago

Thomas Nicholas Marudas, an urban planner who managed development along Baltimore's harbor and downtown's west side, died of respiratory failure May 28 at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Guilford resident was 79.
Born in Detroit, he was the son of Nicholas Marudas, an account manager for a Detroit-based coffee company, and his wife, Stavroula 'Lula' Marudas, a homemaker. He was a graduate of David L. MacKenzie High School and earned degrees at Wayne State University and Catholic University of America, where he studied urban planning.
As a college undergraduate, he joined the Young Democrats and was an alternate delegate at the contentious 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
He came to Baltimore and joined the city's Department of Housing and Community Development in the 1970s and worked with neighborhoods in urban renewal areas.
'Mayor William Donald Schaefer recognized Tom's ability to work with people. Tom would stop and talk to you,' said a planning colleague, Ron Kreitner. 'He could be light when things were serious and when you worked with Tom, you could be sure things would be done.'
Mr. Marudas went on to oversee the transformation of the Inner Harbor along Key Highway at the base of Federal Hill. After leaving city government, he joined developers to convert a 42-acre site — a former Key Highway shipyard — into a $600 million residential development, including the HarborView apartment tower and marina. He also shepherded the controversial development ordinance through the Baltimore City Council.
He later became an aide to the late Baltimore lawyer and Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos.
Mr. Marudas joined a redevelopment effort known as the Westside Renaissance Inc. and championed a project that brought the restoration of the Everyman and Hippodrome theaters to the area around West Fayette and Eutaw streets. He also worked to strengthen a partnership with the University of Maryland's downtown campus.
He helped coordinate the Orioles' landmark baseball games with Cuba's national team. Several years later, in coordination again with the Orioles and Mr. Angelos, Mr. Marudas spearheaded an effort to help Greece field a national baseball team for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
Mr. Marudas was a longtime parishioner and past president of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation.
His family described him as a proud Greek-American, involved in both local and international Hellenic efforts, including co-leading a delegation during the early 80s to establish Baltimore as a Sister City to Piraeus, Greece.
His family said that one of the major highlights of his life was having the opportunity to travel regularly with his wife to Greece, where they spent summers with extended family and friends. Mr. Marudas had a particular love for traditional Greek music and played clarinet in a Greek-Armenian band during his college years. He was also an accomplished Greek dancer.
He had a great interest in politics and was an active volunteer on various Democratic campaigns.
Federal Judge Ellen Hollander, a family friend, said, 'Tom never lost his passion for politics. He was incredibly ethical, smart and a treasured friend. He was one of the most righteous and humble people I've ever had the fortune to know.'
Michael Sarbanes, also a family friend, said, 'It was a given that Tom would help out in a situation. Tom could not stand when a person was selfish.'
Iris Reeves, former Baltimore City councilmember, dies
Donald Warren Richardson, Richardson Farms co-owner, dies
Ed Andrews III, Harford County attorney and decorated Vietnam War veteran, dies
Marian M. Hogan, retired elementary school teacher, dies
Neil William Curran, former Baltimore city planner and organic farmer, dies
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Georgia C. Samios Marudas, a retired Baltimore Sun editor; a son, Peter T. Marudas, of Shaker Heights, Ohio; a daughter, Stephanie M. Marudas, of Philadelphia; and four grandchildren. His son, Nicholas T. Marudas, died in 2015.
Services were private.
Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at [e-mail] and 410-332-6570.