Robert Lawrence Beal z"l, a native Bostonian, graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Harvard University in 1963 and continued at Harvard Business School to earn a Master of Business Administration in 1965. His career path commenced as a Vice President of The Beacon Companies, investment-builders, from 1965 to 1976 and then he joined The Beal Companies in 1976 (now known as Related Beal).

Robert is active in professional businesses and organizations both locally and internationally. He is a member of the American Society of Real Estate Counselors, a past director and chairman of the Artery Business Committee, and the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (Board Director 1970-72, 1976-90, President 1978-79).

He was affiliated with the Boston Municipal Bureau (Chairman, 1994-96, Treasurer, 1988-89, 1992, Vice Chairman, 1990-93); serves as Chair of The Taubman Center for State (since 2003) and Local Government at Harvard as well as the Chair of the School of Social Science, Urban Affairs and Public Policy at Northeastern University (since 2007), an Chair (2007-10) of the Board of Directors of Harvard Hillel.

Beal’s career affiliated membership also includes the National Reality Committee (Director, past Secretary, member Executive Committee 1974-99, Vice President, Vice Chairman), Massachusetts Association Realtors (director 1979-81), Building Owners-Managers Association Boston (Director 1970-72), American Society of Real Estate Counselors, Ripon Society (Co-Founder, National Treasurer 1968-73, National Governing Board 1979-85), National Association Real Estate Appraiser (certified), Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation (Director 1980-86), Institute Property Taxation, International Association Assessing Officers (primary subscribing member since 1982), Beacon Hill Civic Association (Board Director 1975-79), Bostonian Society (Life Member), Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (Board Director since 1992), The Vault (Coordinator Committee 1978-97).

Within the community Beal has shown devotion to numerous organizations utilizing his time, talent, and resources, including the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (former overseer and trustee: 1981-2001), the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Chairman, Council of Fellow: 1988-present), the Boston Zoological Society (President 1980, Chairman 1981-84, Honorary Chairman 1985, Board of Directors 2011-present), the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (Overseer 1988-97, 1998-2001, named Overseer for life in 2001) and the Combined Jewish Philanthropies (Executive Committee since 1989, Vice Chairman 1992-93, Chairman, Committee on Endowment fund 1999, Chair of the Development Committee 2001, Chair of Community Capital Campaign 2002-2003, Chairman 2004-2006, and appointed Director since 2006). Beal is also a member of the Board of the New Center for Arts and Culture (since 2003) and was on the board of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society (Cabinet Member 2000, Co-Chair 2003 campaign). Beal’s outstanding dedication to the community afforded him the honor to be selected as director of the Old North Foundation (since 2009) and Trustee of Tufts Medical Center (since 2011).

Whenever the timeslot permits on his busy calendar, Beal enjoys traveling with his family.