WASHINGTON, DC – The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) mourns the loss of Nicolas Retsinas, who died recently in his beloved Rhode Island after an extended illness. Retsinas was a long-time proponent of fair, inclusive and equitable housing and lending policies at the state and federal levels.
Retsinas served as Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and as Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision during the Clinton administration. Retsinas served on the CRL board of directors from its founding in 2002.
“Nic Retsinas believed that everyone deserved access to affordable, decent housing in thriving communities, and spent his professional life working to make that a reality,” said Mike Calhoun, president of CRL. “He championed policy initiatives to address critical housing and community development needs. He also was a generous friend and mentor to many in the housing community.”
In 1998, Retsinas became director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, which produces the well-regarded annual State of the Nation's Housing report. He also served on the boards of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Housing Finance Board, Freddie Mac, and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, and is a past Chair of the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity International. He was inducted into the National Housing Hall of Fame.
CRL extends its deepest condolences to Nic Retsinas’ family, friends and colleagues.
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Press Contact: Alfred King alfred.king@responsiblelending.org