Jack Rivkin, 76, Investment Analyst
Jack Rivkin, who has been credited with introducing investment research practices that elevated some of Wall Street’s biggest firms beginning in the 1980s, died on Nov. 8 surrounded by family at his home in Amagansett, where he lived part time since the mid-1970s. He was 76 years old and had pancreatic cancer for the last seven months.
Mr. Rivkin held management positions at Lehman Brothers Inc., Smith Barney, PaineWebber, Citigroup Investments, Neuberger Berman, and Mitchell Hutchins. While he was at Lehman Brothers, he helped the company’s underperforming research department become the top-ranked research team on Wall Street, a turnaround that eventually became a case study at Harvard Business School.
He was a regular on Bloomberg Radio and CNBC, and was a partner at Idealabs and Dale Carnegie, an executive adviser to Aquiline Capital Partners, and the director of the New York Society of Security Analysts, the World Policy Institute, and multiple private companies. He was also an adjunct professor of security analysis at Columbia University and served on the board of the nonprofit organization Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America, or LEDA. Most recently, he was the chief executive officer and vice chairman of the board of Altegris. Matt Osborn, the co-founder of Altegris, told Bloomberg News last week, “We are honored to have had the opportunity to work with Jack. He will be greatly missed.”
Mr. Rivkin was born Aug. 20, 1940, in Tulsa, Okla., one of three children of David Rivkin and the former Margaret Perry. He grew up in Tulsa, attended Edison High School, and enrolled in the Colorado School of Mines, where he graduated in 1962 with a degree in metallurgical engineering.
Mr. Rivkin served two years in the Army, from 1962 to 1964, and was stationed in Alaska and Arizona.
He was married to Jane Miley on Aug. 16, 1964.
He earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1968.
The couple raised their children in New York City.
His family said he was known as a natural mentor and leader in the business world, but was “a present and thoughtful friend and family man as well. He was a role model for those around him, balancing strength and kindness and exemplifying integrity, empathy, and compassion.”
Mr. Rivkin loved traveling, and with his wife visited many places, including Africa, Europe, India, and Argentina, where the couple owned a house for 10 years. He also loved fly-fishing, football, meditation, and heartfelt conversation.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Rivkin is survived by his brother, Jeffrey Rivkin of Tulsa, his daughter, Susan Verde of East Hampton, his son, Michael Rivkin of Los Angeles, and four grandchildren.
A memorial service was held last Thursday at the Angler’s Club of New York City. He was cremated and his ashes will be scattered in Argentina. Memorial donations in his name can be sent to LEDA, Development Department, 501 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor, New York 10018, or the New York Stem Cell Foundation, online at nyscf.org.