Michael John Rauseo

RAUSEO, Michael John Real Estate Broker, Developer and North Shore Businessman of Lynnfield, Mass., Waterford, Vermont, and Rockport, Mass. died April 1. He was 71. Mr. Rauseo was one of New England's leading real estate brokers for over 40 years, specializing in industrial real estate. He developed premier commercial properties on the North Shore. Only son of Michael and Dorothy Rauseo, Mr. Rauseo spent his childhood in Everett, where he was raised alongside many cousins, aunts, and uncles. In 1955, he graduated from Chauncy Hall Preparatory School of Boston. In 1960, he received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Northeastern University. While at Northeastern, he was a member of the ROTC, the Honorary Scabbard & Blade Society, the American Society of Industrial Engineers, editor of the student industrial engineering magazine (first prize national competition) and a senior class officer. He conducted the 65-member ROTC Military Band of Northeastern University in his senior year. Mr. Rauseo received his MBA from Stanford University in 1962. While a student at Northeastern and Stanford, Mr. Rauseo conducted the "Mike Rauseo Orchestra" which performed at numerous hotels including the Parker House, the Hotel Van Dome, and the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston and the Mark Hopkins Hotel and the Cliff House in San Francisco. Mr. Rauseo joined IBM in 1962 in San Francisco before going into active duty in the Army Adjutant General Corps as a 1st Lieutenant in 1963. He was stationed at the Pentagon's Computer Department. While on active military duty, he founded the consulting firm of Management Research Associates, which he subsequently sold to a subsidiary of Control Data Corporation. At this time, he wrote "Management Controls for Computer Processing," published by American Management Association. In August 1962 he married Stephanie Leather. Their 3 sons, Michael J. III, David S. and Charles W. were all born in Alexandria, Virginia. The family returned to the Boston area in 1969. They have resided in Lynnfield for the past 40 years. In 1973 he founded Rauseo & Co., Inc., a real estate brokerage firm which grew to include a team of 15 brokers specializing in the sale and leasing of industrial real estate in the New England area. Mr. Rauseo was personally responsible for some of the largest transactions in the Greater Boston area, including facilities for Monsanto, ITT, Gillette, US Steel, Wang Labs, AVCO, Leggett & Platt, General Motors, Gulf + Western Industries, Bell Telephone, New England Nuclear, and Massport. Mr. Rauseo was a long time member of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, Building Owners and Managers Association, and was president of the Lynnfield Rotary Club. In the 1980's he developed office and commercial properties on the North Shore including the Lynnfield Office Park, an automotive complex at 151 Andover St, Rte 114, Danvers; and suburban office buildings at 2 Electronics Ave. and 235 Newbury St. in Danvers. Mr. Rauseo was a member of the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement (HILR) where he led and participated in study groups on a variety of subjects. He had been semi-retired for the past decade, traveling with his wife throughout North America and Europe. He also enjoyed entertaining friends and family at his Vermont vacation home. He had a passion for outdoor activities, including hiking, canoeing, fishing, and cross-country skiing. He adored his family and was admired by sons and grandchildren. His son Michael said: "Our father lived a very productive and full life. The only time I can remember him sitting down was to watch a football game on Sunday afternoons. He enjoyed hiking and long canoe trips. One of our favorites was our yearly two-week, 100-mile canoe trip on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway from the middle of Maine up to the St. Lawrence River in Canada. Dad would drop us off in the middle of Maine and drive the car through rural dirt roads up to Canada. Then he would have a friend fly him back in a seaplane so that he could start the trip with us. We canoed during the day, camped out at night and rarely saw anyone for days." His son David recalls: "Our Dad had a great sense for adventure, which was contagious. As a young family, we cross-country skied all over the Northeast, and experimented with home-made sailing and canoe rigs on local lakes and rivers. Later in life, he enjoyed challenging himself and inspiring us to join him in ice-out canoe races including the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race in Bangor, Maine and the toboggan run at the Camden Snow Bowl." Son Charlie, "Dad was a rare man. He succeeded in his own friendly and dignified way. Always, he maintained control of whatever his situation. He earned the love and respect of an incredible number of people, including me. We will miss him." He is survived by his wife of 48 years Stephanie, sons Michael and his wife Christine of Beacon Hill, David and his wife Laurie of Canterbury, NH, Charles and his wife Jing of San Francisco, CA, and six grandchildren: David Jr., Michael IV, Emily, Benjamin, Anna and Nelly. Wake and funeral information: Visiting Hours at the Lynnfield home: Monday April 5, 4-8pm. Funeral Mass: Tuesday April 6, 12:30 pm at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 758 Salem St. in Lynnfield.