Henry “Hank” Belber, the driving force behind Applebrook Golf Club in Malvern and the developer of several upscale Chester County communities including Rabbit Run Road and Kings Circle in Malvern, and Sugar Knoll in Devon,  died on Christmas Day at Paoli Hospital.  Mr. Belber was 88 years-old.

According to the obituary published by philly.org, Belber “spent six decades in the building business, at first under the tutelage of his father, Edmond, and then as president of Trico Construction.”

A graduate of Lower Marion High School in Montgomery county and the Gettysburg College after a stint in the Navy, Belber was a standout basketball player in both high school and college.  In high school his team won the state championship two years in a row.

According to Karen Belber, Mr. Belber’s daughter, Belber will be remembered as an affordable man who loved to laugh.

“He had a ready smile, was a very charismatic man and always eager to help. He would crack himself up so much, he’d be in tears, just telling his own jokes. He was a real pistol.”

For more on Mr. Belber’s life and legacy read the entire obituary on philly.com here and here.