Pierce Archer

Pierce Archer, of Villanova, Pennsylvania - beloved family member, trusted friend and advisor, and man of myriad talents - passed away on December 29, 2024 at age 68.

Pierce was a loving husband to his wife of 40 years, Cynthia (Cindy) Hill Archer, father of Kate (Alexander Richards) and Emily (Thomas Cheeseman), and Grandad (a.k.a. "Gaga") to his two grandchildren Lawson and Madeleine.

He is survived by his sister Caroline Combs and brother John (Joanne), sisters-in-law Susan Cody and Elizabeth Kende (Ethan), and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, John Hoffman Archer and Charlotte Liebig Archer, his brothers-in-law Henry Combs and David Cody, and his niece Kelly Archer.

A lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, Pierce grew up in Wynnewood and was a graduate of The Episcopal Academy (class of 1974) and Colby College (class of 1978).

Pierce had a successful career in the financial services industry for more than 40 years, serving as a trusted investment advisor to his clients and building relationships that spanned decades and generations. He possessed a natural sense for interesting investments, and always maintained an eye for quality, assiduously avoiding fads. He started at Merrill Lynch in 1980 and built his career at brokerage and investment firms - including W.H. Newbolds, Radnor Capital Management, Inc., U.S. Trust Company, and Pennsylvania Trust Company - before co-founding an investment management firm, Radnor Capital Management, LLC, in 2012 with his long-time friend and colleague.

To know Pierce was to know his quick wit and wry sense of humor. As he put it in his speech at his daughter Emily's wedding, "Archers tend to see humor in places where other people don't see places." Across all stages of his life, he made lifelong friends for whom he cared deeply, and who shared or appreciated his sense of humor, as well as his big heart, ability to put people at ease, unique perspective on life, and sage advice.

Pierce was a "Renaissance man" with expansive interests, talents, and knowledge. He loved being outdoors, walking and hiking, and had deep respect and appreciation for the natural world. An avid collector of fossils and minerals, he made an annual pilgrimage to the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase in Arizona. Inspired by summers spent in Montana during his youth, he introduced his own family to the national parks, mountain ranges, and ranches of the American West. He loved gardening, and alongside Cindy created a lush oasis surrounding their family home in Villanova.

An adept and creative craftsman, Pierce operated a full workshop in his basement from which he created furniture and personalized gadgets, and crafted customizations for his and his daughters' homes. He had wide-ranging taste in music - from the B-52s to ZZ Top - and was involved in the music scene at Colby College, hosting radio shows and booking bands to play on campus. Pierce had a penchant for pyrotechnics and put on professional-grade fireworks shows at his swim club with a merry band of recruits every Fourth of July for 20 years.

Pierce had a sharp intellect and was a voracious reader, endlessly curious about history, the world and how things worked. This curiosity also brought him to an eclectic range of events - from pumpkin catapult competitions to Lancaster County mud shows - often returning home with newly acquired artifacts and tools he couldn't resist adding to his collection. His encyclopedic grasp on seemingly limitless topics never ceased to impress his daughters.

He was a wonderful husband, a devoted father, and a steadfast older brother. Family was everything to Pierce, and nothing made him happier or more proud. He took great joy in teaching his daughters about the world, cheered them on at every game and performance, sent them off to college equipped with their own personal toolboxes, and always answered the phone - no matter how busy his day - excited to hear their news and ready to offer words of encouragement and wisdom.

In the best way possible, there was no one quite like Pierce. He left this world far too soon and he will be forever missed. His memory will live on through his family and all those who loved him. Think of him when you experience the wonders of nature, laugh at a well-timed wisecrack, or witness a spectacular fireworks show lighting up the sky.

A celebration of Pierce's life will be held on Saturday, March 8 at 4:00pm at the Merion Cricket Club in Haverford. To honor Pierce's memory, donations may be made to Natural Lands or to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University's Women in Natural Sciences (WINS) program. Natural Lands is dedicated to saving open space, caring for nature, and connecting people to the outdoors; Pierce shared these values and loved walking their local preserves. He was a devoted fan of the Academy since childhood, and WINS helps introduce young women to the natural sciences, just as Pierce did for his two daughters.

Pierce received care at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr for the past two years following a medical event. His family is deeply grateful for all of the relatives, friends and colleagues who circled around them and for the kindness of the Beaumont team.