NEIL HIRSCH

HIRSCH--Neil S., born June 7, 1947, passed away on June 24th at his home in Wellington, FL with his loving and devoted wife, Dr. Laura De Luca at his side. Neil Hirsch revolutionized the trading of government, fixed income and foreign exchange securities by creating technology to collect and disseminate information not otherwise available to traders at that time. He started Telerate as a 21-year-old in 1969 and expanded the business into over 80 countries when he orchestrated its sale to Dow Jones in 1990. His work was recognized when he was honored as Man of the Year by the Information Industry Association. After two years on the Dow Jones Board of Directors and its Management Committee, he left and went on to acquire a controlling interest in Loanet, a company which processed over 80% of securities borrowed and loaned in the United States. He later sold Loanet to SunGard Data Systems. Neil was an active polo player and won numerous events with his Black Watch Polo team. He was a founder of the Bridgehampton Polo Club and active in polo events in Wellington, FL where he spent most of the last 20 years as an important and active member of the community supporting, among others, the Palm Beach County Sheriff Department. However, it's his love of and dedication to the protection of children that led to his building the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington, FL where, in addition to his financial support, he worked tirelessly to provide loving support to his "kids." While his life was sadly cut short, he had the opportunity to influence his diverse group of friends, including the employees and the guests who supported his beloved Wellington Players Club and his family to whom his integrity, impeccable taste, sense of humor and zest for life was much admired and will be sorely missed. His strength in battling his illness over the past two years was a testament to his fighting for additional time to be with the love of his life, Dr. Laura De Luca. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington, FL in Neil's memory.