RalphBlock's most recent article for NAREIT's REIT Magazine was back in the March/Aprilissue. The piece was titled "Reducing Risk in Tough Markets," and waswritten in his usual style — approachable, with analogies you'd expect from Ralph("Today's stock market is like Tombstone, Ariz., in the late 19th century —even the most careful visitor can, with a single misstep, get whacked.") andtempered with the wisdom that comes from decades of investing and counseling othersthrough tough markets.

Ralphencountered his own tough market late last year, when he was diagnosed with pancreaticcancer. He disclosed his condition to our readers in his last piece for SNL Real Estate, and also expressed optimismand confidence that he would be back writing soon. Despite undergoing surgery earlierthis year, the cancer has spread and he is now home under hospice care.

How toquantify the impact Ralph has had on REIT investors? He wrote the book. Literally."Investing in REITs" is now in its 4th edition, and has been, for manyyears, required reading for new analysts in the real estate group at my firm, anddoubtless at many others. Five-star review follows five-star review on Amazon:

"thedefinitive REIT book"

"clear,knowledgeable, balanced and thorough"

"anastonishing wealth of knowledge"

"readingthis book made me feel like I was opening a treasure chest of knowledge"

Ralphhas contributed to the Motley Fool's REIT board since 1999 under the handle "REITnut"and has a devoted following. When Ralph's condition was recently disclosed on theboard, dozens of followers posted messages of appreciation and support. Generous,thoughtful, funny, kind, informed, intelligent, humble, caring, wise, inspiring,decent, caring, selfless — the descriptors used in the postings will not surprisethose who are privileged to know him.

I wantto thank Ralph for his sizable contribution to our platform since 2008. His "BlockParty" blog — full of his characteristic humor, literary references and insight— was among our most popular content. I know our readers miss Ralph's wisdom asmuch as we do, so we've attached a sampling of his articles. If you have reminiscencesof Ralph, please submit them in the comments section below or email me directlyat keven.lindemann@spglobal.com, so we can gatherthem together and share them with Ralph and his family.

* Ralph Block isyour host

* Swimming in asea of volatility

* Jumping into the (blind)pool

*

*

* The merger conundrum

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

* 2016 forecast:Choppy waters