Hebrew SeniorLife announced Thursday the appointment of Tom Alperin and Howard Cohen as co-chairmen of the organization’s board of directors. These Boston business leaders will work together at the Harvard Medical School affiliate.
Hebrew SeniorLife is New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior housing, health care, research and teaching, and serves more than 5,000 seniors in eight locations throughout Greater Boston.
As co-chairmen, Alperin and Cohen will focus on the completion of NewBridge on the Charles, a new continuing care retirement community Hebrew SeniorLife developed in Dedham; generating philanthropic support of Hebrew SeniorLife’s research and educational activities; growing the endowment; and helping execute Hebrew SeniorLife’s long-term strategic plans.
“Howard and Tom bring a wealth of leadership experience and personal passion to Hebrew SeniorLife at a pivotal moment in our advancement,” Len Fishman, Hebrew SeniorLife CEO, wrote in a press release. “They will provide invaluable guidance as we strive to both grow efficiently and further improve the high-quality, compassionate care that seniors have relied on for more than 100 years.”
Alperin is president and founding partner of National Development, one of the region’s largest real estate investment and development firms. He previously served as the vice-chair of the Hebrew SeniorLife Board and Chairs the Joint Committee on NewBridge on the Charles.
“Working with Hebrew SeniorLife for the past 10 years has been a truly rewarding experience, and I’m honored to take on this new role. Hebrew SeniorLife’s mission to care for our elders with compassion and quality care, while advancing our collective understanding of elder issues, is critical to our society and the organization,” said Alperin. “Howard and I have worked together in Boston for many years and we are equally committed to leading HSL to new heights during our term.”
Cohen is chief executive officer of Beacon Communities LLC, a privately owned real estate development, acquisition and management company. He was previously Secretary of the Board and Chair of the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center Board, and currently serves as Chair of the Roslindale Redevelopment Committee.
“I am extremely passionate about (Hebrew SeniorLife’s) mission, and look forward to working with Tom to lead the organization to even greater achievements,” said Cohen. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Hebrew SeniorLife for many years, and have witnessed its terrific care firsthand as my mother lived at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. It is a remarkable organization, and I’m proud to be associated with it.”
Alperin and Cohen began their term in September 2009.
