WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Real estate developer James “Jim” A. Pappas passed away at age 70 in West Palm Beach on August 1, the Palm Beach Daily News reported.

After years of real estate development projects for both commercial and residential properties in New York and Boston, Pappas settled in Palm Beach and had completed about ten renovations in the past decade there, the News reported.

The news wrote that pappas was “born May 29, 1946, to Judge John C. and Katherine A. Pappas in Milton, MA, graduated from Milton Academy in 1964, and in 1968 earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

“After his father’s death, Pappas and his two brothers, Jack and Peter, took over the family business, Pappas Enterprise Inc. of Boston. The company’s principal interests were commercial real estate development and international shipping.

“Prior to that, Pappas developed projects in downtown White Plains, NY, emphasizing ‘vertical construction’ as an antidote to suburban sprawl, which he detested. Among his projects was a two-tower building that included the largest Sears store east of the Mississippi. In all, he developed several million square feet of office space in the city.

“Back in Boston, he re-directed the focus of his family’s companies, which had been involved in food and beverage sales and distribution. Pappas instead emphasized real estate, divesting many operating businesses. Pappas companies developed more than 2 million square feet of industrial, office and retail space.”
The News also described Pappas as “an active member of the Greek Orthodox Church and supported many charities, including The Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the South Boston Neighborhood House and the Boys & Girls Club.”

He is survived by four children, James Jr., Timothy, Alexandra and Andrew; four grandchildren; three sisters, Diana Hamilton of Greenwich, Conn., Valerie Sapounakis of New York City, Georgia Pappas of West Palm Beach; brother Thomas Peter Pappas of Washington, CT, and longtime companion Maribel Alvarez of West Palm Beach.