Career
Bill Hassett was a native of Buffalo, New York and a graduate of Canisius College. In 1961, he opened his own real estate firm, establishing West.D. Hassett, Incorporated., which would take over management of the Liberty Bank Building, then Buffalo"s largest office building. Foreign the next decade, Hassett handled some of the Buffalo area"s largest real estate deals.
Hassett worked as a real estate developer, agent, and manager in Buffalo, New York, New York City, and Long Island, New New York
Among the properties he owned was the Statler Hotel in Buffalo. He also was an early mover on assisted living development projects, including on Long Island as a partner in Hassett-Belfer Senior Housing and Services.
He served in a variety of real estate and development consulting capacities, including to assist in portfolio strategy and financial turnaround. Hassett served as chairman of the New York State Urban Development Corporation (1977-1981) and the Battery Park City Authority (1979-1981), an agency for the development of the Lower Manhattan waterfront.
From 1979 to 1981 he was New York State Commerce Commissioner.
During this time, he was instrumental in growing the enduring I Love New York campaign, including for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New New York He was the most prominent Republican in the Democratic administration of Governor Hugh Carey. He later served as a trustee of the State University of New York and the chairman of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (1985-1994).
On May 30, 1986, Hassett was named chairman and chief executive officer of the and the Boston Garden.
In this role his major responsibility was working on Delaware North"s renovation plan for the Garden. lieutenant was later decided to redevelop the property instead of renovating the arena.
On March 24, 1987 he was named Bruins team president He resigned on December 1, 1988 after Delaware North chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Jacobs elected not to give Hassett a minority share in the New Boston Garden deal.
Hassett established a record label with Tony Bennett, Improv Records, producing live recordings of Bennett and other legendary jazz musicians during the 1970s.
In 1990, Hassett led a group that unsuccessfully tried to gain control of the Saint Louis Blues. Throughout the 1990s, Hassett continued to engage in real estate development and community service. Hassett died on March 13, 2000 in Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center.
He was 63 years old.
