GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — One of the men behind some of Grand Rapids’ biggest revitalization projects has died after being hit by a car.
In a Thursday release, the Grand Action Committee mourned the death of 87-year-old John Canepa of East Grand Rapids. The release did not provide any details about when he died.
Canepa was hospitalized after being hit by a car around 5:30 p.m. Monday while crossing Leonard Street NW near Hamilton Avenue.
He was the former president and CEO of Old Kent Bank. As a founding member and co-chair of Grand Action, a nonprofit focusing on downtown revitalization, he was instrumental in the development of Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and other projects.
Grand Action co-founder David Frey told 24 Hour News 8 that while Canepa was originally from Boston, he “adopted Grand Rapids.”
“He … threw his heart and soul into this city to make it what it is and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude,” Frey said.
Frey said he has been out of town and returned a couple of hours too late to see Canepa before his death
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