Sheldon Solow was the founder of Solow Realty & Development and an affiliated company, Solow Management. Solow was born in Brooklyn in 1928, the son of a bricklayer. He got his start in real estate in the early 1970s, when he built a 50-story office building at 9 West 57th Street called the Solow Building. He also owned a portfolio of East Side rental towers. He was known for litigiousness in his business dealings and was described as reclusive. He died in 2020 at age 92

Solow’s residential portfolio also includes One and Two Sutton Place North, clad in his signature sleek black glass, and the Solow Townhouses.

Solow attended New York University but did not earn a degree. He is survived by his wife, sculptor and jewelry designer Mia Fonssagrives-Solow and his two children. His son, Stefan, now runs the family real estate business.