Daniel Goodwin, founder, chairman, and CEO of The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc., passed away Jan. 19 at the age of 80. Goodwin was the founding chairman of Nareit’s Public Non-Listed REIT Council.
Founded by Goodwin in 1968, Inland specializes in creating, developing, and supporting separate real estate investment and financial companies.
“Dan was a pioneer and visionary in the commercial real estate industry, as well as an exceptional human being and friend,” said Robert Baum, Inland interim chairman, on behalf of fellow Inland principals and co-founders G. Joseph Cosenza and Robert Parks.
A native Chicagoan, Goodwin earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Illinois public universities. Upon graduation, he worked as a science teacher on the city’s West Side for five years before embarking on a real estate career with his fellow teachers Baum, Cosenza, and Parks.
Over more than 50 years, Inland entities have collectively raised in excess of $26 billion in capital, conducted over $80 billion in commercial real estate transactions, and sponsored over 800 investment programs, including eight public REITs.
Baum also highlighted Goodwin’s many civic and philanthropic endeavors, especially in the areas of affordable housing, higher education, and good government.
Goodwin had previously served as chairman of the board of Inland Real Estate Corporation, a public company that was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, he founded the Retail Properties of America REIT, which is also listed on the NYSE. Two other Inland sponsored corporations have merged with publicly traded companies.
Goodwin, who was a consistent supporter of Nareit policy initiatives such as preserving like kind exchanges for commercial real estate, was interviewed by Nareit in 2018 as the company celebrated its 50th anniversary.