California | October 4, 2016

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.

Inside The Story

About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Content and Public Relations for Connect Commercial Real Estate. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 30 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect’s client content operations and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from content strategy, message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. In his most recent corporate communications roles, he led a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, played a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and was responsible for directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest, the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. In addition to his vast commercial real estate experience, Dennis has worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of residential projects such as Disney’s Celebration in Florida, Ritter Ranch in Palmdale California (7,200 homes, 22,000 acres), WaterColor in Florida and PremierGarage in Phoenix. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as 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, BoyScouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and Thunderbirds Charities.

Order Reprints