John Berylson
John Berylson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 June 1953 |
| Died | 4 July 2023 (aged 70) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, football club chairman |
| Known for | Founder of Chestnut Hill Ventures LLC; Chairman of Millwall F.C. |
John Gregory Berylson (2 June 1953 – 4 July 2023) was an American entrepreneur and the founder of Chestnut Hill Ventures LLC. He served as chairman of the London-based football club Millwall from 2007 until his passing in 2023.
Education
Berylson completed his undergraduate studies at Brown University, receiving an A.B. degree in 1975. He further pursued graduate education, obtaining an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and an M.S. from New York University.
Career
In his professional roles, Berylson held the position of director at Youngworld Stores Group, Inc., and was Non-Executive Chairman as well as a member of both the Audit and Remuneration Committees at Millwall Holdings PLC. Throughout his tenure, he invested approximately £100 million into Millwall Football Club.
Additionally, Berylson served as a director at Manifold Capital Corp. Although reports identified him as a supporter of the Republican Party, including contributions to John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, Berylson publicly clarified that he was registered with the Democratic Party.
A practicing member of the Jewish community, Berylson was a father to three children.
His background also included service as a US Marine, and he was known to be an avid supporter of the Boston Red Sox. Beyond business, he held several trustee roles at institutions such as the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, The Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and the Brown University Sports Foundation, while also serving as a Director for the Brown University Library System.
Personal life
As a committed philanthropist, Berylson and his wife Amy directed their charitable efforts through the Amy Smith and John G. Berylson Foundation. Their generosity largely focused on advancing educational causes, alongside contributions to Boston-area philanthropy via the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation. Additionally, Berylson was a dedicated and enduring patron of the Brown University football program.
Death
On 4 July 2023, at 70 years old, Berylson tragically passed away in an accident. While driving his Range Rover in Falmouth, Massachusetts, he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a tree. Emergency responders declared him deceased at the scene.