Robert J. Lancelotta Sr., a Howard County real estate developer who created the Terra Maria community near Ellicott City, died of cancer April 16 at his Ocean City home. He was 81 and had lived in Catonsville.

Born in Baltimore and raised on Frederick Avenue, he was the son of Frank Lancelotta, who owned the Erdman Lumber Co. and his wife, Josephine Libertini, a homemaker. He was a 1962 Edmondson High School graduate.

Mr. Lancelotta joined his father at Erdman Lumber and eventually bought the Northeast Baltimore business. He sold lumber to building contractors and industrial clients. He also developed an automobile leasing business. He had a lifelong affinity for luxury cars.

“Robert was personable and a good businessman. He was dyslexic and thought outside the box,” said his cousin, Sam Lancelotta. “He was so successful because he was a people person. He developed strong relationships with his customers and employees. And when he undertook a project, he studied it from all angles.”

His daughter, Dee Dee Lancelotta Barber, said, “He was talented and knew the lumber business inside and out. He had plenty of sales charisma.”

He and his wife purchased Terra Maria, a 55-acre tract of land once owned by Charles Carroll of Carrollton. The site had been largely vacant since the 1911 fire at Saint Charles College, a Roman Catholic seminary that once occupied parts of the property. They engaged architects Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and Uri Avin to create a neo-traditional planned community.

Part of the old seminary remained in tatters and Mr. Lancelotta had the stonework walls stabilized and preserved as a permanent ruin.

“My father saw the opportunities in life,” said his son, Robert J. Lancelotta Jr. “He was a positive person. Where others saw problems, he found a way out. He was willing to explore possibilities and see things in a different light.”

After moving to Ocean City nearly 30 years ago, he sold residential real estate with Coldwell Banker.

He was a past board member of Our Lady’s Center in Ellicott City and was a board member of the Calypso Condominium in Ocean City.

He enjoyed hunting, boating and deep-sea fishing.

“He had a gregarious spirit, outgoing nature and ability to make friends wherever he went,” his son said.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mark Roman Catholic Church – Chapel, 30 Melvin Ave. in Catonsville.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, a St. Agnes Hospital volunteer who also sold real estate; a son, Robert J. Lancelotta Jr., of Washington, D.C.; a daughter, Dee Dee Lancelotta Barber, of Ellicott City; and a sister, Theresa Lancelotta Pirone, of Ellicott City.

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