William J. Condren

CONDREN--William J., Palm Beach, Florida and Southampton, New York died after a lengthy illness on October 29, 2007 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, surrounded by his family. He was 74 years old. A graduate of Chaminade High School, Fordham University and Harvard Law School, he was a private investor with interests in real estate and equipment leases. In 1966, after practicing law for seven years, he pioneered the leveraged lease financing of railroad equipment and aircraft, which structure he later applied to public utility generating equipment, off-shore drilling equipment, oil tankers and other marine equipment. He was involved in the syndication of subsidized housing projects in New York, Florida and Massachusetts, and the financing of the initial rehabilitation of a block on West 42nd Street known as Theatre Row Phase II, which was sold in 2004 for further redevelopment. He was a lifelong fan of horseracing and co-owned several successful horses, including two Kentucky Derby winners and a Preakness winner. He was a co-founder and director of the National Thoroughbred Association, a trustee for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, and a director of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. He is survived by his wife Mary Jo, son Colin, and daughters Elizabeth and Jennifer. A memorial service will be held in New York City on Friday, November 9th, at 10:00am at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, 980 Park Avenue at 84th Street.