Thomas Flatley

Flatley was born on August 30, 1931 in Kiltimagh County Mayo, Ireland and grew up on a 25-acre farm.[1] In 1950, he immigrated to New York City with only $32.[2]

He worked at a Bronx delicatessen, served in the army for 2 years and then moved to Boston, enrolling at Wentworth Institute of Technology on the G.I. Bill.[1] He dropped out, and in 1956, he started a plumbing and air conditioning business. In 1958, he developed his first apartment complex.

In 1972, he formed Democrats for Nixon along with John Connally.[1]

Between 1984 and when he shut it down in 1989, Flatley owned WNHT, a radio station in New Hampshire.

By 1996, he owned and operated 12 malls and shopping centers, 56 office buildings, 15 hotels, 7 nursing homes and 14 apartment complexes with 6,000 units.[1] His developments included the Sheraton Tara Hotel in Braintree, Massachusetts, built based on the design of Irish castles, and the Quincy Marriott.[2]

In 1997, he sold 2 hotels on Cape Cod for $29 million.[3]

In 1998, Flatley funded construction of the Boston Irish Famine Memorial.[2]

In 1999, he sold 3 nursing homes for $33 million.[4]

In 2002, he sold 11 properties to Aimco for $500 million.[5]

In March 2007, Flatley was ranked 754th by Forbes on the list of the world's billionaires.[6]

In May 2007, Flately sold his 10 shopping centers for $500 million.[7]

In 2008, Flatley died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[2]

Flatley lived in Milton, Massachusetts. He attended mass every morning at St. Agatha’s Church, lived in a modest home, and usually flew coach.[2]

He established a foundation with $200 million.[2] Flatley gave millions to Catholic Charities USA, Boston College, Africa relief, and Irish causes.[1]