Shopping Mall Magnate Dies : Development: Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. parlayed a family real estate business into a vast fortune that include 49ers pro football team.

Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., who parlayed a family real estate business into a vast shopping center and development firm, died Monday. He was 85.

DeBartolo died from complications of pneumonia, said a release from the Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. The statement did not say where he died.

DeBartolo, whose development prowess helped make the mall a modern American icon, was one of the country’s richest businessmen. His family’s holdings also included the San Francisco 49ers football team.

In recent years, however, the value of DeBartolo’s real estate holdings began to erode, and he was forced to sell some holdings--including the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League--to raise cash.

This spring, the company launched a real estate investment trust and announced a program to spruce up more than 30 of its properties.

Born Anthony Paonessa in Youngstown on May 17, 1909, DeBartolo took his stepfather’s name while in high school.

The young DeBartolo began working with his stepfather, Michael, at age 13, writing bids for construction projects ranging from road work to commercial buildings.

While a student in civil engineering at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., DeBartolo worked as a foreman on building projects in the area. After graduating in 1932, he returned to work for his stepfather.

In 1937, DeBartolo went into business for himself, building single-family residences in his hometown. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II and saw his chances for success in the postwar baby boom and the development of suburbia.

In the 1960s, DeBartolo’s business began to focus on the development of shopping malls. Other interests included office towers, suburban office parks, hotels, horse-racing tracks, supermarkets and condominiums.

The 1980s saw an extended real estate slump, and the company struggled with $4 billion in debt, a weight that threatened DeBartolo’s personal fortune as well as his business interests.

DeBartolo’s love of sport was well known. He served as president of three horse-racing tracks--Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., Thistledown in Cleveland and Remington Park in Oklahoma City--and his business had begun to invest in riverboat gambling, opening a floating casino near Louisiana Downs earlier this year.

DeBartolo is survived by his son, Edward Jr., who runs the 49ers and serves as chairman of the board for DeBartolo Realty Corp.; a daughter, Marie, and seven grandchildren. His wife, Marie, died in 1987.

A private funeral service is planned.