Wilbur F. Breslin, CEO & Chairman of Breslin Realty Development Corp., Dies at 99

Wilbur Fred Breslin, 99, of Garden City, New York, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026, at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, NY.

Born on November 10, 1926, in the Bronx, he was the son of Pauline and Harry Breslin. As a young boy, he worked alongside his father, helping to operate the family’s successful chain of 12 fruit markets based in Hempstead—an experience that helped shape his lifelong entrepreneurial spirit.

From an early age, Breslin understood the value of a dollar. He earned extra money playing pool and, as a teenager, balanced work in the family market with evenings moonlighting in local bands, playing the clarinet and stand-up bass.

The youngest of three children, Breslin grew up with his older brother Paul, who became an accomplished artist, and his sister Francine, a scriptwriter and environmental advocate who spent most of her adult life in California.

At 16, Breslin was introduced to Walmart founder Sam Walton, a moment he later said “launched him into the world of real estate.” Decades later, Breslin would open 12 Walmart stores throughout Long Island, beginning with the first in Middle Island in 1995.

Breslin Realty was founded in 1953, launching what would become a remarkable career as one of New York’s premier commercial real estate developers. Over the decades, Breslin played a pivotal role in transforming Long Island’s retail landscape, attracting more than 75 percent of the nation’s leading retail brands to the region. Known for his integrity and vision, he built a reputation as a trusted partner among government officials, tenants, and civic organizations.

In the 1960s, Breslin set out to build Franklin Plaza, the first Long Island shopping center to feature on-site parking. The project marked his first major encounter with zoning challenges and community opposition. After years of persistence, Franklin Plaza opened in 1970, featuring nationally recognized retail tenants.

The rise of small strip centers led Breslin to expand into larger retail plazas, residential communities, and commercial developments across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

In 1973, Breslin purchased 2,000 acres of vacant land in Yaphank, NY, intending to build a regional mall and residential community. The proposal sparked opposition due to concerns about the Long Island Pine Barrens—the island’s largest remaining wilderness and sole-source aquifer for drinking water. The experience became a turning point. Breslin ultimately collaborated with local officials, scaling back development plans in support of environmental preservation. His efforts contributed to protecting significant acreage and helped pave the way for the 1993 Long Island Pine Barrens Act.

A natural storyteller, Breslin chronicled his life in his 700-page memoir, For Go-Getters Only, recounting a lifetime of colorful encounters. Among them were evenings with Frank Sinatra, whom he described as “down to earth and easy to be with,” as well as interactions with Jack Nicholson, Jimmy Breslin, Donald Trump, Brooke Shields, Joe E. Lewis, Sumner and Shari Redstone, Mets owner Steve Cohen, and numerous public figures including Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, New York Senators Chuck Schumer, Alphonse D’Amato, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, New York City Mayor Ed Koch, and North Hills Mayor John Lentini.

An avid tennis enthusiast, Breslin shared his home court with legends including Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Pancho Segura, Brad Gilbert, and Aaron Krickstein.

Breslin’s career also reflects the broader evolution of Long Island development—from an era of handshake deals and late-night negotiations before faxes or emails to the modern retail landscape. He helped usher in national brands to the region, working with early discount chains such as Times Square Stores and White Department Stores, paving the way for retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond, HomeGoods, and T.J. Maxx. His centers would go on to include stores such as Modell’s, Toys “R” Us, Marshalls, The Gap, and 7-Eleven.

Over seven decades, Breslin built enduring relationships with many prominent figures in real estate and retail, including Bill Modell, Robert Congel, Morris Sosnow, Albert Boscov, Don Fisher, Mickey Drexler, Alan Fortunoff, Leonard Litwin, Richard Otto, Ronald Ruth, Mel Weitz, Frank Castagna, Eric Zorn, and his longtime partner Allan Rose. He also maintained close ties with Newsday publisher Bob Johnson and banking leaders Louis Hoyes, Gerald Monter, and Jack Farber. Known to many simply as “Willie Breslin,” he was widely respected for his reliability and integrity.

Breslin Realty has developed 30 shopping centers and 12 residential communities across five states, including notable Long Island properties such as Woodbury Plaza in Plainview, Clearmeadow Plaza in East Meadow, and Smith Haven Plaza in Lake Grove.

A committed philanthropist, Breslin supported numerous institutions and causes. His name is honored at Hofstra University’s Dorothy and Wilbur F. Breslin Hall and at St. Francis Hospital’s Wilbur F. and Dorothy Breslin Catheterization Suites. He also donated the Smith Estate manor house and 35 acres to the Town of Brookhaven, as well as land and a building for the Suffolk County Jail and Station House.

His charitable contributions included support for the Northwell Health Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and multiple scholarship funds.

Breslin received numerous honors recognizing his leadership and work ethic, including the Long Island State Parks Robert Moses Master Builder Award, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year and Hall of Fame induction, the ABLI Lifetime Achievement Award, the Long Island Builders Institute Diamond Commercial Retail Award, the Long Island Distinguished Leadership Award, and the American Cancer Society Award for Leadership and Support.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 73 years, Dorothy; his daughter Karen Cooper and son-in-law Steven Hess; his son Kenneth and daughter-in-law Joy Breslin; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother Paul and sister Francine.

Wilbur Fred Breslin will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His legacy of vision, integrity, and generosity will endure for generations.