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Albert Sussman, Former Executive Vice President, International Council of Shopping Centers (1916 - 2004) Former International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Executive Vice President Albert Sussman died on June 8 after a long illness at the age of 88. Mr. Sussman was hired as the association's first employee on January 1, 1958, and remained its only employee for some time. Mr. Sussman continued to lead the organization as executive vice president until his retirement in 1986, after 28 years of service. Mr. Sussman remained active in ICSC as an ex-officio member of ICSC's Board of Trustees until the time of his death.
The son of a butcher and a native New Yorker, Mr. Sussman graduated from The City College of New York with a degree in English literature. He began his career in journalism working as a reporter for a variety of newspapers in New York City and editing several magazines. After his service in the United States Army during World War II, Mr. Sussman was the public relations director for the Automobile Club of New York and was a partner in the public relations firm of V.E. Friedman Associates. When Mr. Sussman joined ICSC the association was less than a year old and had only 75 members. Today, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the retail real estate industry, with over 48,000 members in 77 countries. Under Mr. Sussman's guidance, ICSC helped bring the shopping center industry together as one cohesive entity. During his tenure, ICSC published the "Recommended Lease Form", which provided landlords guidelines for renting space in their shopping centers. "Parking Requirements for Shopping Centers", a joint publication of ICSC and the Urban Land Institute, helped determined the ratio of parking spaces needed for a shopping center. By the time he retired from his position, Mr. Sussman had helped develop many of the services ICSC continues to offer today. Some of these include Idea Exchanges, the Spring Convention, government relations programs, professional accreditation, ICSC's European expansion and Shopping Centers Today magazine. In 1995, ICSC honored Mr. Sussman for his dedicated service by naming its research library after him. Speaking on that momentous occasion Mr. Sussman said, "Shopping centers have changed the world and continue to be the most dynamic and vibrant form of retailing anywhere. Their story is too precious to be lost and it should be accessible to all those, now and in the future, who want to learn all there is to know about the shopping center industry." Currently, the Albert Sussman Library print collection contains more than 1,400 volumes, as well as other documents, industry reports and surveys, annual reports, and general business reference material. Throughout his career, Mr. Sussman was recognized for his outstanding commitment to the industry. In 1986, in Mr. Sussman's honor the shopping center industry endowed The Albert Sussman Chair in Real Estate at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a frequent lecturer. He also received a Fellowship Award and teaching award from MIT, and was honored by the British Council of Shopping Centers in 1985. Mr. Sussman also received an award from the Save Our Children Foundation and was an original advisory board member for the Wharton Real Estate School. "Though there have been a great many visionaries throughout the history of the shopping center industry, no one man will be remembered quite like Albert Sussman for his zest, foresight and belief that the free exchange of ideas enables an industry to grow and prosper," said Michael P. Kercheval, ICSC's president and chief executive officer. "His commitment and service to the shopping center industry will never be forgotten." John T. Riordan, whom Mr. Sussman recruited to follow him as the second head of staff at ICSC, said on learning of Mr. Sussman's death, "The modern shopping center industry and ICSC grew in tandem. It is an accomplishment in modern economic history. That it parallels so closely Al Sussman's three decades of leadership in no coincidence." Mr. Sussman is survived by his sons Bernard and Daniel and three grandchildren. A funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 10, 2004 at the Plaza Chapel, 630 Amsterdam Avenue at 91st Street, New York, New York.
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