JOHN PHILIP STAINBACK, President of Stainback Public/Private Real Estate (SPPRE), died on Wednesday, the 15th of October 2008 in Houston, TX.

John was born in Henderson, North Carolina on the 27th of August 1948. John received a Bachelor of Architecture, School of Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts, Urban Sociology from the University of Maryland, and a Master of City Planning and Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.

John was President of Stainback Public/Private Real Estate (SPPRE), a Houston-based, national consulting company formed in 2001. Throughout his career, John excelled in forging partnerships to benefit communities around the country. In 2001 he authored the book "Public/Private Finance and Development", and in 2005 participated in writing ULI's publication "The Ten Principles of Successful Public/Private Partnerships". Most recently, the American Bar Association (ABA) published the "ABA Redevelopment Book" which included the chapter "The Public/Private Finance of Redevelopment", authored by John. In addition to his numerous writings, he was a requested speaker throughout his career.

Since 1985 he was a Full Member of Urban Land Institute (ULI), and served on the Board of Directors of National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP) from 1987 - 2006. He was a member and advisor of numerous Affiliations but one of his proudest personal accomplishments was to serve as Adjunct Professor of the Real Estate Development Program in 2007-2008 at his Alma Mater, the University of Maryland. He had recently been selected to serve on the Council of Advisors for the Master of Real Estate Development program at the School of Architecture, University of Maryland and was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award, Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the Eight Annual Alumni Association Awards in April 2007.

John was an artist at heart and had recently returned to his hobby as an artist. At the time of his death he had dreams of an art showing. Both in his professional life and personal he lived by the motto "to thine own self be true", William Shakespeare, and Proverbs 23:7 "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he". John believed whole-heartedly in the good created from his work.

Asked to describe John in one word: Unique. His career was ahead of it's time and he found himself the educator, probably his true calling. His goal was to educate as many as possible on the benefits of public/private partnerships, again using his artistic and creative ability to express his vision with the intent to always have a win-win for the public and private partner.

Accomplishments throughout life are numerous and his name will be known for many reasons, but at the end of the day all the work and dedication for a "successful" life would be for naught if not to have Jesus in your life. On August 18, 2008 John accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.

John is survived by his wife, Barbara Furr Stainback, and daughter Caroline Bequette of Yuma AZ, as well as numerous cousins from North Carolina and Connecticut. To the cousins he was known as "Phil" and he would want to list their names: Teresa Parham, Betty Clayton, Jimmy and William Knight, Ruth and Rebecca Edwards, Rachel Hedrick, Susan Knight and Elaine Wallach. John was an only child but was loved as a brother by his brother-in-law, Dallas Furr and family, and sisters-in-law, Brenda Riley and Bonnie Rotton and their families. A very special love was shared with his many nieces and nephews, but especially, by Madison and Lincoln Riley and Amanda Furr. John had numerous friends, too many to mention, with the exception of Joe and Sherry MacKinnon, Houston, TX and Jon Griffis of Denver, CO. And finally, his staff at SPPRE: Jamie Doda, Sandra Rodriguez, Sheryl Tuttle, Philip Williams, Bill Odle, and Will Reed. Will was John's protégé. A great partner, but more importantly, a fabulous friend, the son he never had. To each a profound thank you for all you have done over the years and your continued support in completing John's dream. John is preceded in death by his parents, John Marvin and Helen Grace Stainback.

I wish you well and so I take my leave, I Pray you know me when we meet again.

A memorial service celebrating John's life will be held on Sunday, November 2, 2:30 PM at the Omni Hotel, 4 Riverway, Houston, TX 77056. A memorial service with interment in Henderson, North Carolina will follow.