William D. Hassett Jr. (April 3, 1936 – March 13, 2000) was an American businessman who served as New York State Commerce Commissioner and president of the Boston Bruins.
Bill Hassett was a native of Buffalo, New York and a graduate of Canisius College. In 1961, he opened his own real estate firm, establishing W.D. Hassett, Inc., which would take over management of the Liberty Bank Building, then Buffalo's largest office building. For the next decade, Hassett handled some of the Buffalo area's largest real estate deals.
Real estate career
Hassett worked as a real estate developer, agent, and manager in Buffalo, New York, New York City, and Long Island, New York. Among the properties he owned was the Statler Hotel in Buffalo. Hassett was an early champion of Buffalo's downtown renewal.[1] He also was an early mover on assisted living development projects, including on Long Island as a partner in Hassett-Belfer Senior Housing and Services.[2] He served in a variety of real estate and development consulting capacities, including to assist in portfolio strategy and financial turnaround. He was a River Bank and RB Asset Board Director, a member of the New York State Comptroller's Real Estate Advisory Committee to the Common Retirement Fund, and served as a director of Olympia & York Holdings (USA), a real estate development and management firm.
On May 30, 1986, Hassett was named chairman and chief executive officer of the Boston Bruins and the Boston Garden.[4] In this role his major responsibility was working on Delaware North's renovation plan for the Garden. It was later decided to redevelop the property instead of renovating the arena.[5][6] On March 24, 1987 he was named Bruins team president.[7] He resigned on December 1, 1988 after Delaware North chairman and CEO Jeremy Jacobs elected not to give Hassett a minority share in the New Boston Garden deal.[6]
Jazz label
Hassett established a record label with Tony Bennett, Improv Records, producing live recordings of Bennett and other legendary jazz musicians during the 1970s.[8]
Later life and death
In 1990, Hassett led a group that unsuccessfully tried to gain control of the St. Louis Blues.[9] Throughout the 1990s, Hassett continued to engage in real estate development and community service. Hassett died on March 13, 2000 in Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center. He was 63 years old. He is survived by his wife Margaret Brennan Hassett, six children, Eva, William, Joseph, Ellen, Elizabeth, and Caroline, and their mother Caroline (née Ernst) Hassett Buerk.[1][10]
References
^ abcd"William D. Hassett Jr. Dies at 63; State, Civic, and Business Leader". The Buffalo News. March 15, 2000.
^Oser, Alan S. (11 October 1998). "PERSPECTIVES; Reaching the High-End Market in Senior Housing". The New York Times.
^"Official Reported Ready To Quit Commerce Post". The New York Times. May 15, 1981. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
^DuPont, Kevin Paul (June 13, 1986). "A New Boss; Hassett Takes Over Garden Management". Boston Globe.
^McDonough, Will (July 3, 1987). "A New Garden Proposal". The Boston Globe.
^ abDuffy, Bob (December 2, 1988). "Hassett Quits Garden Project". Boston Globe.
^"Bruins Presidents, General Managers, Coaches and Captains". Boston Bruins. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
^. jazztimes.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-25.
^Kohn, Edward H. (March 27, 1990). "Investors Drop Bid For Blues". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
^"Paid Notice: Deaths HASSETT, WILLIAM D". The New York Times. 16 March 2000.
william, hassett, april, 1936, march, 2000, american, businessman, served, york, state, commerce, commissioner, president, boston, bruins, contents, buffalo, native, real, estate, career, public, service, boston, bruins, jazz, label, later, life, death, refere. William D Hassett Jr April 3 1936 March 13 2000 was an American businessman who served as New York State Commerce Commissioner and president of the Boston Bruins Contents 1 Buffalo native 2 Real estate career 3 Public service 4 Boston Bruins 5 Jazz label 6 Later life and death 7 ReferencesBuffalo native EditBill Hassett was a native of Buffalo New York and a graduate of Canisius College In 1961 he opened his own real estate firm establishing W D Hassett Inc which would take over management of the Liberty Bank Building then Buffalo s largest office building For the next decade Hassett handled some of the Buffalo area s largest real estate deals Real estate career EditHassett worked as a real estate developer agent and manager in Buffalo New York New York City and Long Island New York Among the properties he owned was the Statler Hotel in Buffalo Hassett was an early champion of Buffalo s downtown renewal 1 He also was an early mover on assisted living development projects including on Long Island as a partner in Hassett Belfer Senior Housing and Services 2 He served in a variety of real estate and development consulting capacities including to assist in portfolio strategy and financial turnaround He was a River Bank and RB Asset Board Director a member of the New York State Comptroller s Real Estate Advisory Committee to the Common Retirement Fund and served as a director of Olympia amp York Holdings USA a real estate development and management firm Public service EditHassett served as chairman of the New York State Urban Development Corporation 1977 1981 and the Battery Park City Authority 1979 1981 an agency for the development of the Lower Manhattan waterfront 1 From 1979 to 1981 he was New York State Commerce Commissioner During this time he was instrumental in growing the enduring I Love New York campaign including for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid New York He was the most prominent Republican in the Democratic administration of Governor Hugh Carey 3 He later served as a trustee of the State University of New York and the chairman of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York 1985 1994 1 Boston Bruins EditOn May 30 1986 Hassett was named chairman and chief executive officer of the Boston Bruins and the Boston Garden 4 In this role his major responsibility was working on Delaware North s renovation plan for the Garden It was later decided to redevelop the property instead of renovating the arena 5 6 On March 24 1987 he was named Bruins team president 7 He resigned on December 1 1988 after Delaware North chairman and CEO Jeremy Jacobs elected not to give Hassett a minority share in the New Boston Garden deal 6 Jazz label EditHassett established a record label with Tony Bennett Improv Records producing live recordings of Bennett and other legendary jazz musicians during the 1970s 8 Later life and death EditIn 1990 Hassett led a group that unsuccessfully tried to gain control of the St Louis Blues 9 Throughout the 1990s Hassett continued to engage in real estate development and community service Hassett died on March 13 2000 in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center He was 63 years old He is survived by his wife Margaret Brennan Hassett six children Eva William Joseph Ellen Elizabeth and Caroline and their mother Caroline nee Ernst Hassett Buerk 1 10 References Edit a b c d William D Hassett Jr Dies at 63 State Civic and Business Leader The Buffalo News March 15 2000 Oser Alan S 11 October 1998 PERSPECTIVES Reaching the High End Market in Senior Housing The New York Times Official Reported Ready To Quit Commerce Post The New York Times May 15 1981 Retrieved 16 April 2012 DuPont Kevin Paul June 13 1986 A New Boss Hassett Takes Over Garden Management Boston Globe McDonough Will July 3 1987 A New Garden Proposal The Boston Globe a b Duffy Bob December 2 1988 Hassett Quits Garden Project Boston Globe Bruins Presidents General Managers Coaches and Captains Boston Bruins Retrieved 17 March 2012 Jazz Reviews The Complete Improv RecordingsTony Bennett By Christopher Loudon Jazz Articles jazztimes com Archived from the original on 2012 06 25 Kohn Edward H March 27 1990 Investors Drop Bid For Blues St Louis Post Dispatch Paid Notice Deaths HASSETT WILLIAM D The New York Times 16 March 2000 Preceded byJohn S Dyson New York State Commerce Commissioner1979 81 Succeeded byGeorge G DempsterPreceded byPaul A Mooney President of the Boston Bruins1987 88 Succeeded byHarry Sinden Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William D Hassett Jr amp oldid 1080831059, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
