A prominent and wealthy art collector has been killed in a tragic hit-and-run incident while walking his dog in an upscale Boston neighbourhood, with prosecutors alleging he was intentionally targeted.
A Fatal Morning Stroll in Back Bay
John Axelrod, 79, was walking his beloved dog, Tale, with a friend along the historic Commonwealth Avenue mall in Boston's affluent Back Bay area on Saturday morning when he was struck. The Boston Police Department responded to the scene on the boulevard around 9am. Axelrod was rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries.
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old William Haney, is now facing charges of murder and animal cruelty. Police located his vehicle in the nearby town of Brookline. Haney is scheduled to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on Monday, though no motive for the alleged attack has yet been disclosed by authorities.
A Legacy of Artistic Generosity
Axelrod was a well-known figure in Boston's cultural scene, celebrated for his philanthropy and dedication to amplifying underrepresented artists. He lived in a $2.9 million apartment overlooking a scenic lake in the ritzy Back Bay neighbourhood.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), where Axelrod had been a dedicated benefactor since the 1980s, released a statement mourning his loss. They described him as a "generous supporter and passionate advocate for underrepresented artists." His commitment is permanently honoured in the John Axelrod Gallery within the museum's Art of the Americas Wing, dedicated in 2009.
His philanthropic impact was substantial. Axelrod first donated a work to the MFA in 1985 and, according to a 2014 museum statement, had gifted over 700 pieces. A transformative moment came in 2011 with the establishment of the John Axelrod Collection, featuring nearly 70 important works by Black artists.
A Life of Achievement and Canine Companionship
A native of New Jersey, Axelrod was educated at Phillips Academy, Yale University, and Harvard Law School. Beyond his professional and philanthropic pursuits, he was a devoted dog lover.
His social media pages were filled with photos of his dogs, including numerous images of him walking Tale and his previous dog, Myrna, on Boston's sunlit streets. This personal passion makes the circumstances of his death—while engaged in a routine morning walk with his pet—all the more poignant for friends and the wider community.
The shocking crime has sent ripples through Boston's artistic and neighbourhood circles, leaving many to remember a man whose legacy will endure through the art he championed.
