Pam Feingold, a prominent figure in Boston’s affordable housing and community lending sectors, passed away in March at the age of 64, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy and development that continues to influence the region. Feingold, who served as senior vice president of community lending at Eastern Bank, played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between nonprofit organizations and the financial resources needed to develop permanent housing solutions for the city’s unhoused population.
Feingold was instrumental in supporting organizations like Pine Street Inn as they transitioned from providing temporary shelter to creating long-term housing options. Lyndia Downie, longtime CEO of Pine Street Inn, described Feingold as a crucial mentor who encouraged shelter providers to embrace real estate development, drawing on her extensive relationships within the affordable housing sector. "She was one of the people who said, ‘You can do this. It’s the right thing to do. You can do it. We’ll figure it out,’” Downie recalled.
Her influence extended beyond Pine Street Inn. Feingold contributed to multiple projects around Boston and its suburbs, including Father Bill’s conversion of a motel in Brockton into permanent housing and Eastern Bank’s $14 million loan to transform a Lowell loft into artist studios with living and gallery spaces. These initiatives underscored her commitment to socially conscious lending, a focus that aligned with Eastern Bank’s culture following its acquisition of Wainwright Bank in 2010, where Feingold had established her reputation.
Eastern Bank’s executive vice president and general counsel, Kathy Henry, noted that Feingold helped maintain Wainwright’s tradition of social justice missions in the transition to Eastern. Henry described her late colleague as passionate and driven, “saving the world, one loan at a time.” Despite her long battle with cancer, diagnosed more than a decade ago, Feingold remained active in community causes.
Among the organizations Feingold supported was Alice’s Place, a house on Humarock Beach in Scituate providing short-term respite for those coping with trauma. After a fire severely damaged the facility in 2012, Feingold orchestrated the deal that enabled its full reconstruction and later served on its board. Eastern Bank honored her memory with a $1 million donation to Alice’s Place, a contribution the facility’s executive director called “transformative.” Recently, about 75 Eastern Bank employees participated in Alice’s Place’s annual fundraising walk in remembrance of Feingold’s enduring impact.
Feingold’s approach combined financial expertise with deep compassion. Janet Gibson, executive director of Alice’s Place, reflected on her legacy: “To know Pam is to love Pam. She was smart, she listened, and if your story—your mission—touched her, she believed in you.” Her work helped open doors to funding sources previously difficult for nonprofits to access, making her a key figure in Boston’s efforts to address housing insecurity.