Nelson Rising, a respected developer behind a number of iconic L.A. properties and civic leader who ran Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley’s political campaigns, has died at 81. Rising passed away Thursday at his home in Pasadena. He was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, his family said.
During his career, Rising led the development of the 72-story Library tower, now known as the U.S. Bank Tower; Playa Vista; and Mission Bay, the largest mixed-use development in San Francisco history.
“Nelson Rising has left a lasting mark on our city’s skyline and on our city’s history. Whether you’re looking up to see the US Bank Tower, or you’re looking around to see the impact of Mayor Tom Bradley, Nelson’s work is very much a part of L.A. I extend my condolences to his family and friends during this tough time for them and for our city,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement.
“From Mission Bay to projects that helped revitalize Downtown Los Angeles, Nelson Rising spearheaded iconic developments that transformed neighborhoods across California. Nelson cared deeply about California and Californians, and his dynamic leadership and problem-solving brought together stakeholders from across the board to accomplish monumental feats. I send my deepest sympathies to his loved ones and many friends,” California Governor Gavin Newsom added in a statement.
John Cushman, Chairman of Global Transactions at Cushman & Wakefield Inc. and a friend of Rising’s called him a “tremendous executive.”
“Everyone knew, when a deal got complicated or difficult, they had to go to Nelson. Some of the biggest buildings in America are standing today because Nelson had a hand in it. We worked together to bring Downtown Los Angeles the Library Tower, Gas Company Tower, Wells Fargo Center, and numerous other projects in California and across the country. Nelson was more liberal than me, but we respected and liked each other, and could discuss our differences as friends. That’s what’s missing in America today, and I deeply miss Nelson,” he said in a statement.
Rising was also a civic leader. In 1970, he was the campaign manager for John Tunney (D-California)’s Senate run. Rising was also a producer of the 1972 Oscar-winning movie “The Candidate,” starring Robert Redford, which had parallels to the campaign.
Politically, he is best known for his work with Bradley, the city’s first Black mayor.
Rising was born in 1941 in Queens, New York. A few years later, the family moved to Glendale and his father worked as the chief engineer at downtown’s Statler Hotel. His mother was a seamstress.
“Nelson Rising wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth,” David A. Herbst, founder and managing partner at Vectis Strategies, a public affairs firm that represented Rising, said in a statement. “His self-made roots ensured that he treated everyone with fairness, equality, and respect. Nelson taught me so much, including that humility is a strength.”
Rising attended UCLA on a football scholarship and later went to the UCLA School of Law.
He served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1963 to 1966.
After UCLA, Rising worked at O’Melveny and Myers, where he was mentored by Warren Christopher. He named his first son Christopher in his honor.
At the time of his passing, Rising was the chairman emeritus of Rising Realty Partners, a downtown-based real estate firm he co-founded with his son Christopher Rising, who serves as the company’s chief executive.
In 2019, Rising told CSQ magazine that he was “very pleased when Christopher chose to join me in real estate.”
“We’ve had a wonderful working relationship – much more than father/son – and we do have a great father/son relationship,” he added.
Prior to Rising Realty Partners, Rising held a number of roles, including as the senior partner of Maguire Thomas Partners and CEO of Catellus Development Corp.
He also served as chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, chair of The Real Estate Roundtable think tank, a California Institute of Technology trustee and a W.M. Keck Foundation board member.
Rising is survived by his wife, Sharon, their two sons, Christopher and Matthew, three grandchildren, and a sister, Charlotte Conway. His daughter, Corinne, died in 2018.
