Longtime affordable housing leader Nathan D. Taft died at the end of February.
Taft, 51, joined the Jonathan Rose Cos. in 2004 and recently served as a partner and chief investment officer (CIO).
He was instrumental in launching the New York City-based firm’s first social impact fund in 2005 and to the organization’s overall success, which under his leadership and guidance as CIO has grown to preserve and develop 20,000 units of affordable housing across over $4.5 billion of real estate. More important, his work has impacted countless lives, providing them with access to healthier, greener places to live and work.
“Nathan dedicated his work to the belief that capital could be raised to impact the world for greater good: to build fairer, greener communities, to develop and preserve affordable housing, and to transform the built environment and communities for the betterment of all,” says Jonathan F.P. Rose, company president and founder.
In addition, Taft mentored generations of rising leaders. Countless former interns and analysts have gone on to be industry leaders in their own right, rising from Taft’s tutelage.
He was an active member of the community development, real estate, and impact investing community, serving on the boards of the Goddard Riverside Community Center, Impact Capital Managers, and the Urban Land Institute’s Affordable Housing Council.
Taft is survived by his wife, Hyang-Sook “Soogy” Lee; his children, Wallis and Eli; his parents, Louise and Thomas Taft; his siblings, Genevieve, Seth, and Charles, and their families; and many others whose lives he touched.
