RODMAN L. DRAKE

DRAKE--Rodman Leland, Rodman Leland Drake, 71, died peacefully on June 24, 2014 at his home in Manhattan. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer. He was born in Terre Haute, IN the son of Helen Frederick, a concert pianist, and Col. Leland Rodman Drake. Rod attended The Grange School in Santiago, Chile, where his father was the United States Military attache, before matriculating at The Hotchkiss School. Rod was a member of the varsity golf team at Yale from which he graduated in 1965. After two years as a Lieutenant in the US Army's Intelligence Division, he graduated with an MBA from Harvard University in 1969. At the age of 37, Rod became the youngest CEO and managing director in the history of Cresap McCormick and Paget, a leading international management consulting firm, which he later merged with Towers Perrin. His clients included the World Bank, DK Ludwig and others all over the world, with stations in the Middle East, Mexico, and Brazil. With more than 35 years in management consulting, private equity, financial services, infrastructure development, and biopharmaceuticals, Rod continued his career as an experienced chairman, CEO and corporate director. Until his death, Rod was the chairman of the Columbia Atlantic Funds, and the Brookfield and Helios Funds, a board member and chairman of the compensation committee at Celgene Corporation, and a board member of Chimerix Inc. Until 2010, Rod served as chairman and interim CEO of Crystal River Capital, where he managed the successful sale of the company to Brookfield. Previously, he co-founded and served as managing director of Baringo Capital, a private equity group specializing in mining. Rod was co-chairman of KMR Power Company, a developer of independent power projects in Latin America. Rod was sought after as an expert in solving complex problems. He served a trustee of Animal Medical Center, created the PEN Biography Award in his wife's name. He was a passionate collector and well known for his collection of American Illustration art. He was unassuming, gracious, and sage; he marveled at the world's endless beauty, and was devoted to his family, his friends, his dogs, and thankful for the wonderful experiences in life. Rod is survived by his beloved wife of 16 years Jacqueline Weld Drake, two adored sons, Stephan Drake and Philip Drake by his first wife Lenir Drake, a sister, Joan Drake, nephews Leland Fox and Gregory Fox, an aunt, Fran Drake, his sisters-in-law, Mercedes Levin, Martha Bograd, and Estrellita Brodsky, his brother-in-law Daniel Brodsky, and their children. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. A funeral service will be held on July 1, 2014 at 2:30 pm at The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church 440 West 21st New York, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Animal Medical Center of New York City and Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education.