Melvin Simon, co-founder of Simon Property Group (SPG), the largest public U.S. real estate company, died on Sept. 16. He was 82. In 1999 SPG acquired New England Development. SPG owns 17 malls in New England. Including Copley Place in Boston, The Mall at Rockingham Park in N.H. and Clinton Crossings Premium Outlet in Conn. It currently owns or has an interest in 386 properties comprising 244 million s/f in North America, Europe and Asia. Melvin and his brother found Melvin Simon & Assoc. in 1960 and founded SPG in 1993. Simon and his brother, Herbert, also owned the NBA professional basketball team, the Indiana Pacers. Forbes Magazine estimated that Simon and his shopping mall business were worth $1.3 billion.