ARNO RAYNER ARNO RAYNER

Arno Rayner Arno Rayner of Tiburon and Rancho Mirage, California passed away peacefully in his Tiburon home of complications from pneumonia, following a series of strokes, on December 3, 2010, at the age of 82. He was a native San Franciscan and the only child of Kurt Rayner of Klingenthal, Germany and Angela Flasch Rayner of Graz, Austria, who met in Mill Valley. Arno attended Commerce High School, where he was voted Student Body Treasurer. He commuted by train from San Francisco to UC Berkeley earning his BS in Economics. During the Korean War, he spent two years in the Army Finance Corps. After being honorably discharged, he returned to UC Berkeley, where he earned his MBA in 1954 at Haas School of Business. He later endowed a chair in Finance at Haas-UC Berkeley. He was proud of his association with UC, and his contributions made him one of the "Builders of Berkeley," together with his wife Carol. He was married to Carol Jean Kaufman Rayner. Arno and Carol were together for 18 years. Arno said he knew when he met and first danced with Carol at a Halloween Party at Harbor Point (no, they were not in costume) that he wanted to be with Carol, and they married in 1994. They shared over 16 years as partners in marriage and in business. After his Army service, he joined the Bank of California as a securities analyst. Industrial Indemnity recruited him as Assistant to the Treasurer. He rose through the ranks to Senior Vice President in charge of investments. After the merger with Crum & Forster, he joined Bechtel Corp. as Vice President, where he served on the Bechtel Trust and Thrift Committee. Arno retired from Bechtel and founded Rayner Associates in 1977, which became Rayner & Haynor. Arno was a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He retired as Chairman of the Board in 2005, subsequently became Chairman Emeritus, and served on the Rayner & Haynor Advisory Board. He was a lifetime member of the Security Analysts of San Francisco, and Emeritus Board of Trustees of the Tiburon Peninsula Foundation. Among his many associations, Arno was a member of the Bohemian Club since 1978, the San Francisco Yacht Club, a past president of the Tiburon Peninsula Club, The Faculty Club at UC Berkeley, UC Berkeley Haas Leadership Society, UC Berkeley Crew, Harbor Point Tennis Club, and Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage. He served for 30 years as a Trustee for the Marin Council Boy Scouts of America; received the Silver Beaver Award, and in 1999 he was awarded the Distinguished Citizen of the Year award. He had a Lifetime Membership in The Scouting Heritage Society. He served for many years on the Finance Committee of the World Trade Club. He was a member of the San Francisco Bond Club, which voted him Investment Professional of the Year in 1999; The Kiwanis Club of San Francisco; the Legacy Club of Marin General Hospital; and the Marin History Museum Advisory Board. He was also a Lifetime member of The Excelsior German Center at the Altenheim in Oakland. Arno's major interests included tennis, philately, dominoes, refereeing soccer, and traveling. Arno had a strict sense of honor. He believed in working hard and loved his business. He maintained a high level, clear vision in making choices. His exemplary character and integrity were among the highest example of character and caring for all with whom he came in contact. With his brilliant intellect, kind demeanor, and dignity, he was a joy to know and be with. He was a very special man, with a special sweetness, and was a dear friend. He was a distinguished gentleman with wonderfully charming old school manners. In addition to his devoted soulmate and loving wife Carol, Arno is survived by his children from a previous marriage: Eric Rayner of Novato, Jill Templeton (John) of Strawberry in Mill Valley, and Neal Rayner (Angie) of Edinburgh, Scotland, including three grandchildren; plus brothers-in-law, Bob Kaufman and Tom Kaufman (Phyllis); and their respective families, including 6 nieces and nephews and 12 great nieces and nephews in Kenosha and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. A Celebration of Arno's Life will be held at Harbor Point Tennis and Swim Club on December 17. Contributions in memory of Arno Rayner may be made to the charity of your choice.