Howard Ruby, ‘Father of Corporate Housing’ and founder of Oakwood Worldwide, dies at 90

Howard Ruby, the founder of Oakwood Worldwide, died on Monday May 8 of natural causes in Los Angeles. He was 90.

Born in Cleveland on March 28, 1935, Ruby graduated from the Wharton School of Business, then joined the U.S. Navy, after which he started a real estate partnership in California that led to the formation of R&B Realty Group in 1960.

In 1965 R&B opened the South Bay Club, the first furnished apartments for singles, in Marina del Rey, which later evolved into fully furnished apartments with household items and housekeeping in the 1970s. The firm had locations in 50 states and 86 countries, and became the world’s largest provider of furnished apartments.

Oakwood was sold to Singapore-based ASAP Operator Member The Ascott Limited in 2022.

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