2007 Rivers Cup Presented to Robert Buonato ’81

Bob’s commitment to Rivers as an alumnus and trustee dates back more than a decade. As a phonathon caller, Bob was dogged in both his pursuit of annual fund gifts as well as volunteers to help out with the effort. In the process, he helped Rivers reconnect with dozens of alumni from his era. As a member and then chair of the Facilities Committee, Bob has been influential in helping to define the future campus of Rivers within the scope of the school’s new strategic plan.

Bob’s most important contribution to date has been his role in bringing the new Rivers School Conservatory building to fruition. He has spent the past two years helping to plan and oversee the construction of the 15,000 square foot building scheduled to open this fall. At weekly project meetings, Bob has participated in discussions of everything from design to permitting to construction to decorating. The building will house a recital hall, rehearsal space, teaching studios, practice rooms, recording studio and music library.

Bob currently serves as the President of Wellesley Advisors Corporation, the institutional real estates investment services arm of the Wellesley Companies, one of Boston's leading real estate, management, marketing, financing, development, construction, and investment firms. He has over 15 years of experience in the real estate industry and has been involved in the development of over one million square feet of commercial property. Bob also was the founder of Wellesley Capital, a private real estate equity lending company. A graduate of Hobart College in Geneva, New York, with a bachelors in history, Bob became a trustee of The Rivers School in 2002. He is a co-founder and director of the Wellesley Charitable Corporation, and is also director of the Buonato Family Foundation as well as a number of other local charities. Bob and his wife Robin reside in Weston with their two daughters.