Colemans Know Home Where Heart Is

What do you call it when two realtors descended from a long line of realtors, meet each other, get married, and continued a fine family tradition on County Road in Barrington?

Destiny? Common sense? Or would you just call it Coleman Realtors? Perhaps all three.

David Coleman owns Coleman Realtors with a partner, Michael Young. Coleman's grandfather started the company in downtown Providence in 1929. Obviously not a man afraid of a challenge, William Henry Coleman had been in the insurance industry, and decided to expand into real estate.

His bravery didn't go unrewarded. Coleman Realtors expanded into Barrington in 1956, then into East Greenwich in 1969, and Watch Hill in 1995.

William Henry Coleman Junior started working for the family company in Providence in the mid 1940s, and went on to marry and have two sons, William Henry III, and David. When the boys were 5 and 1, the young family moved to Barrington, and the move proved to be a great one for both the family, and the company, with Coleman Jr. heading up the Barrington office at 210 County Road when it opened.

David's older brother went into the insurance business, and David headed to a business degree at the University of Rhode Island before going to work in the East Greenwich office of Coleman Realtors in 1974.

It was at The Dunes Club in Narragansett that young David Coleman met a lovely young woman by the name of Carolyn Gross. Carolyn's father and grandfather were both involved in real estate, and the two hit it off.

In 1980, the two were married, and went on to have three sons.

Eldest son Christopher is 28, and a lobbyist for a candy company in Washington, D.C..

Coleman said his son is a “big hit around the holidays” as he brings lots of candy samples home with him when he visits.

Son Kyle, 26, works for an outdoor clothing company in Boulder, CO, and Chace, 17, is heading to a post-graduate senior year at the Hotchkiss School, in Connecticut, looking to hone his soccer skills before going to college.

The two older boys were in grade school when the family made the decision to move to Barrington from East Greenwich.

In 1990, the office manager at the Barrington location was ready to retire, so Coleman bought the business from his father, and commuted for a couple of years before the family finally made the move.

“East Greenwich was wonderful,” said Coleman. “But I think Barrington has a little more of a community.”

Coleman said the town has been a terrific place to raise their children.

“We love the recreation here. Particularly being so close to the water,” he said.

When the business allows, the family enjoys playing tennis and golf, and spending time on their boat.

One might think all that togetherness could put a strain on a marriage, but Carolyn Coleman said they have it sorted out.

“It works well, because we're on opposite sides of the office,” she joked.

Dave Coleman is full of praise for his wife.

“I couldn't do a lot of what I do without her,” he said.

Yes, it does seem like it's all three.