William Donner Roosevelt

WILLIAM DONNERROOSEVELT William Donner Roosevelt, investment banker and philanthropist died in the early morning of Monday, December 1, following a seven-year struggle with prostate cancer. He was 72 years old. He was the grandson of US president Franklin D. Roosevelt, and of William H. Donner, a major figure in the growth of America's steel Industry. Bill Roosevelt was an investment banker. He began his professional career as vice president of Electronics Communications, Inc., first in Denver, Colorado and later in Wichita, Kansas. He joined the investment firm of Laird and Company, a Wilmington firm, based in New York In 1962. He would become a founder of the firm of Auerbach, Pollack and Richardson in 1966. He moved to McKinley Alsop, where he served as managing partner. He would serve as senior vice president and head of the institutional office of Buckingham Research's Palm Beach office. He joined Ryan Beck and Company of Palm Beach, FL where he served as senior vice president and headed their institutional effort. He was an advisor to several large institutional money managers, including Essex Management of Boston, Peter Cannell and Co. of New York, and several others. Roosevelt was an active philanthropist. An airplane pilot since the age of 15, he served on the Board of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Foundation where his extensive flying experience enabled him to contribute to the development of many safety procedures commonly used in aviation today. His interests in sport fishing and diving would lead to his becoming the Chairman of the Perry Institute for Marine Science of W. Palm Beach, Florida and the Bahamas. He was an active board member of the William H Donner Science Foundation of New York and of the Donner Canadian Foundation of Toronto, Canada. Bill Roosevelt was born in New York City. His father was Elliott Roosevelt, 2nd son of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt. His mother was Elizabeth Donner of Philadelphia, PA. He was educated at St. Marks School of Southboro, MA. and at Harvard University in the tradition of the Roosevelt Family. He studied law and graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1958. He resided in Palm Beach, FL. He was a founding member of the Doubles Club of New York, and a member of the Weeburn Country Club of Darien, CT. He belonged to the Camp Fire Club of Chappaqua, New York, and the Sailfish Club and Beach Club of Palm Beach, FL. He is survived by his wife, Ava, and his two sons, Christopher Kyle Roosevelt of Portsmouth, RI, Nicholas Roosevelt of Wellington, FL, and a granddaughter, Alexa. His surviving brothers include Curtin Winsor of McLean VA, David Roosevelt of New York City and Tony Roosevelt of Dallas, TX and his sister, Chandler Roosevelt Lindsley of Dallas, TX. A Memorial Service will be held in Palm Beach Florida at a future date.