Born in Cleveland, Held graduated with an engineering degreefrom Ohio State University, and began his career designing airplanepropellers for the military. He served as a naval officer in theNorth Atlantic during World War II. After the war, he moved toCalifornia and entered the real estate business in the Adamsdistrict of Los Angeles, soon after shifting his projects to theWestside. As a licensed real estate broker, general contractor andconstruction manager, he became one of the largest developers onthe Westside.

Held left an enduring mark on the Los Angeles skyline,developing and managing more than 2.5 million sf of the best-knownand highest-quality office and medical office buildings in thecity. His projects included Westwood Place, 1880 Century Park East,100 UCLA Medical Center, 9777 Wilshire Blvd. and Medical Centre ofSanta Monica. He had remained active as chairman of Held PropertiesInc., which he and his family established in 1983, although hadturned over the active management of the business to hischildren.

Held's philanthropic efforts included the Held Foundation, whichsupported many organizations in Los Angeles. At the behest of hislate wife, Louise, he created the Louise K. Held NursingScholarship Fund to encourage graduating nurses throughout thecountry to join nonprofit Westside hospitals. He also served on theboard of the United Jewish Fund and was active in a host ofcommunity organizations involved in cultural, educational, economicand medical research and funding endeavors.