Man who died in plane crash was well known developer

Posted at: 08/15/2012 5:50 PM
By: Subrina Dhammi

Tweet

TROY - Walter Uccellini founded 'The United Group', a real estate corporation.  As a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Uccellini wanted to invest back into the Troy community. 

Seven years ago, he approached then Mayor Harry Tutunjian to start a big project on 6th Avenue.  The project is now nearly complete.  It's called City Station, with student housing on the top floors, and new businesses on the first floor.  Wednesday morning, the city was cutting the ribbon on the newest business, Paesan's Pizza Shop, when news started to spread that the man behind the project had suddenly died.

"When we selected his firm in 2005, Walter told me he wanted to do a great project in the city of Troy, something people would remember him by.  And sadly today, we remember him by this project, a life gone too soon," said Tutunjian.

The United Group is a family business.  Uccellini's son is the company CEO, his brother is Head of Construction and two nephews and a niece also work at the company. 

The United Group sent this statement:

"Today is a truly stunning and sad day.  We have lost our father, brother, husband, grandfather, uncle, friend, partner and leader.  Walter Uccellini was a giant in the world, a truly inspirational figure that we will always love and remember with great fondness.  We ask that you respect our privacy during this tragic time.  We are a solid team at United Group and will find a way to carry on.  But today we mourn the loss of a great, great man.  Please send thoughts and prayers for Jim Quinn and his entire family.  We are all praying he fights through this."