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Thomas J. DeSimone named board chair-elect of Hebrew SeniorLife. Long-time Hebrew SeniorLife board member is a partner at W/S Development Associates LLC May 28, 2026 News topics. Locations. Hebrew SeniorLife has named Thomas J. DeSimone board chair-elect. DeSimone is a partner at W/S Development Associates LLC in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. He will succeed current Board Chair Richard J. Henken when his term ends in 2027. Henken has been a valuable volunteer leader at Hebrew SeniorLife for more than 15 years. In addition to serving on the board, Henken has served as chair of the Senior Living Committee and also serves on the Governance and Real Estate Committees. "With Tom's longstanding commitment to Hebrew SeniorLife and deep expertise across our full range of services, I can think of no one better suited to lead this organization as we continue to embrace the many opportunities ahead and redefine what it means to age well. I look forward to partnering with him as we continue advancing Hebrew SeniorLife's mission," said Henken. "I've dedicated much of my volunteer work to organizations focused on the human experience across all stages of life. Aging is something we all share, and the ways we understand and approach it continue to evolve in remarkable ways. At this stage in my own life, I can think of no more meaningful way to give back than by serving an organization like Hebrew SeniorLife, which is leading the way in redefining what aging can look like," said Thomas J. DeSimone. "I am deeply grateful for the leadership and dedication that both Richard Henken and Tom DeSimone bring to our organization and mission. Their passion, vision, and unwavering commitment to redefining aging have helped position Hebrew SeniorLife at the forefront of innovation and care for older adults. I look forward to working alongside them as we continue building on this momentum and advancing our mission in meaningful and transformative ways," said Hebrew SeniorLife President and CEO Adam Scott. About Thomas J. DeSimone DeSimone is a partner in W/S Development Associates LLC, a real estate development and management company. As such, he is involved in management performance, leasing, development, project finance, marketing, and public relations. He has been with the company and its affiliates for over 30 years. Prior to joining the company, DeSimone served as vice president in the Real Estate Production Group of The Boston Real Estate Counsel, Inc., a subsidiary of The Boston Company. He joined the company to assist in establishing an asset management function and later served as the chairman of The Real Estate Counsel's Strategic Planning Committee. DeSimone graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics. He earned his Master of Science in accounting from the Northeastern Graduate School of Professional Accounting. In addition to his diverse duties at the companies, he is active in the New England business community. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Urban Land Institute, and serves on the board of NAIOP Massachusetts. His community activities include serving on the Board of Directors of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, as co-chair of the hospital's $1.2 billion capital campaign, and as a member of the board of Hebrew SeniorLife. In the past, he has served as president of NAIOP Massachusetts, treasurer and board member of Greater Boston Legal Services, board member and chairman of St. John's Preparatory School, board member and treasurer of Community Resources for Justice in Boston, and chairman of the Board of Trustees of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Business Career DeSimone is a partner in W/S Development Associates LLC, a real estate development and management company. He has been with the company and its affiliates for over 30 years. Prior to joining the company, DeSimone served as vice president in the Real Estate Production Group of The Boston Real Estate Counsel, Inc., a subsidiary of The Boston Company. He joined the company to assist in establishing an asset management function and later served as the chairman of The Real Estate Counsel's Strategic Planning Committee. Education and Community Activities DeSimone graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics. He earned his Master of Science in accounting from the Northeastern Graduate School of Professional Accounting. In addition to his diverse duties at the companies, he is active in the New England business community. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Urban Land Institute, and a board member of NAIOP Massachusetts. His community activities include serving on the Board of Directors of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, as co-chair of the hospital's $1.2 billion capital campaign, and as a member of the board of Hebrew SeniorLife. In the past, he has served as president of NAIOP Massachusetts, treasurer and board member of Greater Boston Legal Services, board member and chairman of St. John's Preparatory School, board member and treasurer of Community Resources for Justice in Boston, and chairman of the Board of Trustees of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He is a resident of Fort Myers, Florida. About Hebrew SeniorLife Hebrew SeniorLife is a national leader working to create a world where aging is defined by possibility, not limitation. Hebrew SeniorLife, Inc. care for more than 4,500 older adults each day across seven campuses throughout Greater Boston, and offer support for families in the aging journey. Its services include in-home care, outpatient therapies, an outpatient memory clinic, short- and long-term inpatient care, hospice, independent and assisted living, and affordable housing with services. Hebrew SeniorLife, Inc. conduct influential research on aging at its Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, which has a grant portfolio of $87 million, and train future health care workers at the Lunder CareForce Institute. Hebrew SeniorLife is a Harvard Medical School affiliate. Follow Hebrew SeniorLife, Inc. on its blog, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Hebrew SeniorLife secures $200,000 MassDEP grant for energy upgrades in Brookline. The grant will support clean energy and high-performance energy efficiency upgrades at Center Communities of Brookline's 108 Centre Street building. * home * news * Hebrew SeniorLife secures $200,000 MassDEP grant for energy upgrades in Brookline. Hebrew SeniorLife, New England's largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and living communities, has been awarded a $200,000 Gap III Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The MassDEP funding supports the implementation of clean energy and high-performance energy efficiency upgrades at 108 Centre Street, a 100% affordable supportive housing community for older adults in Brookline. 108 Centre Street is the newest addition to Hebrew SeniorLife's Center Communities of Brookline campus. The project combines deep energy efficiency investments with rooftop solar energy generation, enhancing resident comfort, reducing environmental impact, and lowering long-term operating costs for the 54-unit building. Energy efficiency measures 108 Centre Street incorporates a range of energy efficiency measures designed to meet Passive House Institute US standards. These include: high-performance insulation, triple-glazed windows, energy-efficient doors and superior air sealing, and green screen installation to reduce solar heat gain. These enhancements are projected to reduce building energy consumption by 188,680 kWh annually, representing a 62.94% reduction compared to an IECC Baseline Building. Annual cost savings are estimated at $28,300. 108 Centre Street also features a 37.44 kW rooftop solar PV system expected to generate 40,622 kWh, covering approximately 37% of the building's annual total electricity usage. Advancing climate resilience and housing equity "These investments reflect our commitment to providing healthy, resilient, and sustainable housing for older adults," said Deb Morse, vice president of real estate at Hebrew SeniorLife. "We're grateful for MassDEP's support, which enables us to demonstrate that affordable housing and environmental leadership can go hand in hand." About Hebrew SeniorLife Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 4,500 seniors a day across seven campuses throughout Greater Boston. Locations include: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-Boston and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-NewBridge in Dedham; NewBridge on the Charles, Dedham; Orchard Cove, Canton; Simon C. Fireman Community, Randolph; Center Communities of Brookline, Brookline; Jack Satter House, Revere; and Leyland Community, Dorchester. Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife also conducts influential research into aging at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, which has a portfolio of more than $98 million, making it one of the largest gerontological research facilities in the U.S. in a clinical setting. It also trains more than 500 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, follow Hebrew SeniorLife, Inc. on its blog, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn.