In a statement, Mortimer Zuckerman, co-founder and chairman of the board, at Boston Properties, says "we all lost a dear friend and great colleague. Ed and I started Boston Properties over 40 years ago. We spoke almost every day and found the opportunity to laugh at both the ups and downs of the real estate business. He will be greatly missed by all of us at the company and our hearts and prayers go out to his family." Zuckerman, who co-founded the REIT with Linde in 1970, is stepping in as CEO.

Linde spent five years at Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, where he became VP and senior project manager, before co-founding Boston Properties. He also served as president of the Boston-based REIT until 2007, when he was succeeded by his son Douglas.

Outside of his real estate career, Linde was also a leading political contributor. He supported the presidential campaigns of Wesley Clark, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton and Christopher Dodd. His other interests included cultural and charitable causes, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where he was chairman of the board of trustees; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston's Museum of Fine Arts