EX-99.CERT
Exhibit 10(a)(2)(i)


   I, Robert H. Steers, certify that:

   1.  I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Cohen & Steers
       Total Return Realty Fund, Inc.;

   2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
       statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
       necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
       circumstances under which such statements were made, not
       misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

   3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
       financial information included in this report, fairly present
       in all material respects the financial condition, results of
       operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the
       financial statements are required to include a statement of
       cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods
       presented in this report;

   4.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are
       responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure
       controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the
       Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over
       financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the
       Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

       (a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or
           caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be
           designed under our supervision, to ensure that material
           information relating to the registrant, including its
           consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
           within those entities, particularly during the period in
           which this report is being prepared;

       (b) designed such internal control over financial reporting,
           or caused such internal control over financial reporting
           to be designed under our supervision, to provide
           reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
           financial reporting and the preparation of financial
           statements for external purposes in accordance with
           generally accepted accounting principles;

       (c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
           controls and procedures and presented in this report our
           conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure
           controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior
           to the filing date of this report based on such
           evaluation; and

       (d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's
           internal control over financial reporting that occurred
           during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the
           registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an
           annual report)






           that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
           affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting;
           and

   5.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed
       to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the
       registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the
       equivalent functions):

       (a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in
           the design or operation of internal control over financial
           reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect
           the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and
           report financial information; and

       (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
           management or other employees who have a significant role
           in the registrant's internal control over financial
           reporting.



       Date: August 19, 2003

                                     /s/ Robert H. Steers
                                     Robert H. Steers
                                     Chairman, Secretary and principal
                                     executive officer