Philanthropist and real estate developer Stanley Chera (center) with his wife Frieda.

Stanley Chera, whose family went from his father operating a children’s department store on Fulton Street in Brooklyn into their owning a wide portfolio of properties, died on April 11.

President Trump tweeted, “Stanley was charitable, kind, and a wonderful friend. He will be truly missed!” He early supported Trump’s campaign for president.  According to the New York Times, he donated more than half a million dollars to date.

The Brooklyn-born Chera’s company Crown Acquisitions had an ownership interest in the St. Regis New York Hotel. His firm had assets of several properties on Upper Fifth Avenue with tenants such as Cartier and Versace. He began the restoration of The Knickerbocker Hotel in midtown. He had an interest in the Olympic Tower on Fifth Avenue, and also invested in One World Trade Center and 650 Madison Avenue.

Haim Chera, Stanley’s middle son, called his father a “giant-hearted, champion of the underprivileged and needy,” according to the publication the Real Deal.

As the coronavirus spread, Trump advised Chera to head to Deal, N.J., where moguls of the Jewish Syrian community such as Chera have vacation homes. He headed there but it was to no avail.

He was a philanthropist who supported the Rabin Medical Center in Israel and other causes, including The Algemeiner.

His wife, Frieda, also contracted the virus but survived. He leaves three sons as well as grandchildren.