3 minute read
In Remembrance
IMPACT // BY TERRY TROY
Scott A. Wolstein set standards for development and civic leadership.
By every definition, Scott A. Wolstein was a community leader — in spirit, in deed and by example. When he passed away earlier this year after a valiant battle with cancer, he left behind a small army of admirers, as well as a loving family and many friends who miss him daily.
Although he wasn’t the “Father of the Flats,” he was absolutely instrumental to its rebirth. The Flats East Bank development is just one physical legacy. However, he also set the professional standard for development not only in the Flats, but across the entire region.
“Scott’s passing is undoubtedly a loss to the Cleveland community,” says David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland and Cleveland Sports Commission. “He was a strategic and skilled real estate developer. His vision for the revitalization of the Flats East Bank helped change the face of our riverfront — returning it to a usable and vibrant area in Downtown Cleveland.
“At a pivotal time in Cleveland’s renaissance, Scott developed a new urban waterfront destination for residents and visitors alike — bringing people back to the area where Moses Cleaveland first landed in 1796. His forward thinking and investment in the area was a catalyst for all of the development we now see in the Flats, including along the Scranton Peninsula and at Irishtown Bend.”
“There is no doubt that he was a phenomenal leader,” says Jim Haviland, executive director of Flats Forward, the nonprofit that helps coordinate development along the Cuyahoga River. “When I worked for the city of Cleveland, I was able to be involved in what was happening on the Flats East Bank. He was not only involved with his father and mother’s work, but he really helped bring their ideas to fruition.
“Scott was absolutely fantastic, and his work was transformative. He was a great corporate citizen, and what he brought to the Flats is but one example of what he brought to our city.”
“He was able to breathe new life back into the Flats at a time when it had grown dormant for several years,” adds Yvette Ittu, president of Cleveland Development Advisors, an affiliate of Greater Cleveland Partnership. “He acquired the property to develop the Flats, which was a multiyear endeavor. And while I’m not sure if you could call him the ‘Father of the Flats,’ its rebirth was in a large part due to Scott Wolstein.”
Wolstein was born on June 24, 1952, to Bertram L. and Iris S. Wolstein in South Euclid. He is survived by his four children, Harrison, Ilana, Shelby and Merrick; his mother, Iris; his sister, Cheryl (Eugene) Faigus; and his best friend and partner in life, Jillian. Wolstein was predeceased by his father, Bert, in 2004.
A resident of Hunting Valley, Wolstein went to school in Beachwood and graduated from Hawken in 1970, earning a reputation as a gifted student and athlete. He went on to study business at the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1974. He later earned a law degree at the University of Michigan, but was a loyal fan of The Ohio State University Buckeyes.
He started practicing law at Thompson, Hine & Flory, but transitioned into commercial real estate, joining Developers Diversified Realty as CEO alongside his father. He also served with his father for the Cleveland Force Soccer Team as its executive vice president.
Being Jewish was a very important aspect of Wolstein’s life. He was a longtime member of Park Synagogue. It’s been said that the only thing Wolstein loved more than his family was his hometown. And he took immense pride in Cleveland.
So next time you head down to the Flats, take a little time to remember and appreciate the man who gave us so much and brought so much to our town. He is sorely missed.
