Roberrt Kaufman, a Kings Point resident and Manhattan real estate executive, died at his home last Wednesday. He was 89 years old.
Kaufman’s grandson, Jonathan Kaufman Iger, told Newsday Kaufman died of cardiac arrest.
“He truly had a passion for what he did, and particularly the leasing, the art of negotiation, the deal,” Iger said. “That’s what he excelled at.”
Originally born in the Bronx, Kaufman grew up in Kings Point, according to Newsday.
After graduating from New York University in 1949, he began working at his father, William Kaufman’s, real estate firm, the William Kaufman Organization.
Kaufman would spend the next 65 years developing a reputation as a top commercial real estate developer and negotiator.
He served as president of the William Kaufman Organization and its property management division, Sage Realty Corp. until he died.
“He could just form this chemistry — put everyone at ease and make sure we got the deal done,” Sage Realty Vice President and director of leasing Michael Lenchner told Bisnow.com. “I’m going to miss those types of transactions.”
Kaufman served as a trustee and then chairman of what was then called the North Shore Health System until its 1997 merger with the Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
He received an honorary doctorate from Hofstra University, where he and his wife, Florence Buck Kaufman, have endowed student scholarships in their name.
Kaufman and Florence were married for more than 65 years.
A funeral service was held at Temple Beth-El in Great Neck on Feb. 21.
Kaufman is survived by his wife, Iger, daughters Ronna, Julie and Cathy, two sons-in-law and six other grandchildren.
