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John Kilroy Sr. Passes Away at 94

John Kilroy Sr., one of the pioneering commercial real estate leaders and a champion sailor, has died at the age of 94.  Kilroy passed away from complications of aging at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Kilroy, who was known as Jim, established Kilroy Realty Corp.

Kilroy rose from a Depression-era start by finding opportunity in SoCal, meeting the CRE expansion needs of aerospace companies and defense contractors after World War II. In the nearly 70 years since, Kilroy Realty has earned respect as a savvy West Coast investor, developer, manager and landlord.

Initially, Kilroy built properties near major airports, so corporate employees could more easily travel once the jet age took off. In recent years, since going public, the company diversified its portfolio, which now encompasses 13.7 million square feet of office and mixed-use assets.

John Kilroy Jr. took over daily management of the company from his father in 1981, and the elder Kilroy retired as chairman in 2013. Kilroy Jr. remains the firm’s chairman and CEO.

Kilroy Sr. was called a “titan” of competitive sailing, including induction into the National Sailing Hall of Fame, and recipient of its first lifetime achievement award in 2014.

Kilroy was born May 1, 1922, in Ruby, Alaska.

He is survived by wife, Nelly; five children John, Sue, Anne, Trice and Dana; five stepchildren Bea, Michele, Mike, Rick and Cece; 17 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

A funeral Mass is scheduled for Saturday morning at Sacred Heart Chapel at Loyola Marymount University.

Read More at Los Angeles Times

* Scuttlebutt Sailing News Image Dick Enersen

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Dennis Kaiser

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About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Public Relations and Communications for Connect Creative. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 40 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect Creative’s agency client services and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from public relations and content strategy, communications and message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. Prior to joining Connect Media in 2015, his most recent corporate communications roles involved leading a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, playing a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest (BrightView), the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. He has worked on marketing communications assignments for such CRE companies as Blackstone/Equity Office, Carlyle, Caruso, Disney Resorts, GE Capital, Irvine Company, Hines, Howard Hughes Corp., Jeffries, Lennar, MGM, Marcus & Millichap, Prologis, Raleigh Studios, Simon, Starwood, Trammell Crow Company, Transamerica, UBS and Wynn Resorts. Dennis has also worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of consumer electronic, media and tech brands including SlingMedia, Channel Master, Deluxe Media Entertainment, BeIn Sports, EchoStar and Sprint. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as Off Madison Ave., Idea Hall and Macy + Associates. He has earned an outstanding reputation with organization leaders as a trusted advisor, strategic program implementer, consensus builder and exceptional collaborator. Dennis has developed and managed national communications programs for Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, both public and private. He’s successfully worked with journalists across the globe representing clients involved in major-breaking news stories, product launches, media tours, and company news announcements. Dennis has been involved in a host of charitable and community organizations including the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals, Boy Scouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and the Thunderbirds Charities.

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