As the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Jerome Lyle Rappaport provided guidance on the overall direction for New Boston Fund. Mr. Rappaport, who passed away, brought over 50 years of real estate investment experience, including the development, management, and sale of one of the largest mixed-use developments in New England, Boston’s Charles River Park. Under the leadership of the Rappaport family, Charles River Park grew into a thriving community, ultimately comprising 2,300 units of housing, over 500,000 square feet of retail and office space, and more than 3,400 parking spaces. Mr. Rappaport also played a prominent role in the redevelopment of the Charlestown Naval Yard in Boston, the redevelopment of 2000 Commonwealth Ave in Brighton, MA, and numerous other real estate investments across the Northeast.

Throughout his life, Mr. Rappaport was a driving force in Boston’s urban planning affairs, beginning in the 1950s. He served on the boards of several civic, charitable, and professional organizations and founded numerous charitable and research initiatives, including the Jerome Lyle Rappaport Charitable Foundation and the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Additionally, he was the founding member and senior partner of the law firm Rappaport, Aserkoff & Gelles.

Mr. Rappaport earned an AB from Harvard College, an LLB from Harvard Law School, and an MPA from the Littauer School of Government at Harvard University. He was also honored with an honorary degree from Suffolk University Law School. His legacy continues to shape the communities and institutions he touched throughout his remarkable career.