Alfred Carpionato, one of the most prominent developers in Rhode Island, died Saturday.
Carpionato, 75, served as chairman and CEO of the Carpionato Group.
In a statement the company said Carpionato passed away peacefully and while surrounded by his family.
“Mr. Carpionato was a self-made man who truly lived the American Dream. He took great pride in his family, his work and he always believed in the potential of the people who lived and worked in Rhode Island,” Kelly MacArthur Coates, president and COO of the Carpionato Group, said in a statement. “While never seeking the spotlight, he never wavered in his commitment to investing in New England. He developed destinations that truly enhanced communities and was a catalyst for meaningful economic development and job creation. He was also a quiet philanthropist whose generosity knew no bounds.”
According to his company bio, Carpionato had more than 50 years of development experience.
Former Providence Mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr. said, “I have known Fred Carpionato for close to fifty years. Fred was one of the best developers and real estate minds our state has ever seen, and his projects transformed Rhode Island. Fred changed the face of Chapel View and totally transformed the old Sockanosset School for Boys into a beautiful center for shopping, offices, and restaurants. He had many accomplishments throughout his career, and bringing iconic properties like the Crowne Plaza to Warwick showcased his determination to always create something inspiring. Fred was a tireless worker who was making aggressive acquisitions up until the last few months of his life, purchasing the Newport Grand Casino and the entire chain of Benny’s stores. Losing him is a great loss for our state and our real estate community. My thoughts and prayers are with Fred and his family.”
The Carpionato Group said Carpionato “is survived by his wife Sheryl (Costantino) Carpionato who has been by his side for the past 30 years, his sisters Iliana Luchka and Attilia Renzi and his children Domenic and Louis Carpionato. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island and was the son of the late Louis and Anna Carpionato.” His funeral service and burial will be private.
The company said Carpionato began working for his father’s residential construction business as a teenager and bought his first building, a renovation project in Smith Hill, at age 15.
According to Caprionato’s bio, “Mr. Carpionato has developed and redeveloped millions of square feet of Rhode Island shopping centers, office buildings, hotels and apartment communities. Recent noteworthy retail and mixed-use developments include the 500,000+ SF Chapel View lifestyle development, the 250,000 SF Greenwood Shops anchored by Lowes and Stop & Shop in Warwick, the development and rehabilitation of Stonehill Marketplace a 830,000 SF regional power center in Johnston, the development of Westerly Crossing a 151,700 SF regional retail development and the redevelopment of the Whole Foods anchored 97,000 SF University Marketplace in Providence. Mr. Carpionato’s hotel development resume includes the 266 room Crowne Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, the new 147 room Holiday Inn Express and Suites on Jefferson Boulevard servicing TF Green airport.”
More recently, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung and Cranston Democrats have faced scrutiny for campaign office space provided by the Carpionato Group at questionable rent levels.
