Joel B. Wilder

WILDER, Joel Brenner of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, a Weston, Massachusetts native died peacefully in his home on December 4, 2017 at the age of 83. Boston-based, Wilder was a highly respected developer of retail and mixed-use developments throughout the eastern United States and Puerto Rico. He was the founder of The Wilder Companies and served as Chairman for many years. He served on the Board of Directors of Horizons for Youth, Greater Boston Real Estate Board and Beth Israel Hospital. He was notably philanthropic and contributed to Bentley University, Beth Israel Hospital, Cape Cod Health Care Foundation, Jupiter Medical Center, Pope John’s Seminary and the Irish Cultural Society. In 2001 he received his Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science at Bentley University and the Wilder Pavilion is named in his honor as recognition of his contributions. Joel spent seven years and worked two jobs while going to night school to earn his degree at Bentley University. Bentley’s former Chancellor and President, Dr. Gregory Adamian, became one of Joel’s closest friends.

Joel was devoted to his family and loved nothing more than spending time with his loving wife, his six children and their families. Many a family evening was spent playing poker and competing at the pool table. He also enjoyed his weekly gin games at the Country Club with his buddies. While golf wasn’t his forte, he happily tolerated the occasional golf lesson from his wife, Christina. He had a real facility for numbers and was a whiz in the stock market. He was smart as a whip and super well-organized. Joel had a passion for sports and was an avid follower of the Boston Red Sox, the Celtics and the New England Patriots.

Joel Wilder was a firecracker in his professional world, a nobleman in his personal life and through it all he always maintained his integrity and generosity. He was honest, honorable and magnanimous. He was a man who lived and loved life to the fullest. He knew what he wanted and went after it. He was both strong and tender-hearted. Loving husband to his most precious wife, theirs was a true love story.

Wilder is survived by his beautiful wife of 62 years, Christina McSweeney Wilder, their six children and their spouses and ten grandchildren. Family members are: Susan Wilder, husband Jeth Gold; son, Brennan Joel Wilder-Gold of Oakland, CA, David Wilder, wife Barbara Dunn and children, Ahna Dunn Wilder and Emily Dunn Wilder of Langley, WA; Barry Wilder and children, Georgia Wilder and Whitman Wilder of La Crescenta, CA; Tom Wilder, wife Suzi Wilder and children, Luke Wilder, Clare Wilder and Grace Wilder of West Newton, MA; Karen Wilder Soper, husband Hort Soper of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Kathryn Wilder, husband Stephen Craig and children, Jack Wilder Craig and Tom Wilder Craig of Pennington, NJ and a brother, Jerome Barry, wife Lisette of Silver Springs, MD.

A Mass will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Palm Beach Gardens, FL on December 16, 2017 at 11:30 am. A reception will follow at Frenchman’s Reserve, Palm Beach Gardens. Donations in Joel’s memory can be made to, St. Patrick Catholic Church, 13591 Prosperity Farms Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410, or to Bentley University, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA 02452. There will be a Memorial Service at Bentley University in the spring of 2018 to honor the service and memory of Joel B. Wilder. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Aycock-Riverside Funeral and Cremation Center, Jupiter, FL.