Claiborne Brogden Booker

1961 - 2025

Claiborne Brogden Booker

December 14, 1961 - November 1, 2025

Claiborne Brogden Booker, 63, passed away on November 1, 2025. A Richmond native, he grew up at Second Baptist Church, attended Richmond Public Schools (TJ class of '80), graduated from St. John's College in Annapolis, and earned an MBA from the University of Chicago.

A life-long musician and music-lover, as a boy soprano he starred at The Mosque (now Altria Theater) in Amahl and the Night Visitors, to much acclaim. When his voice changed, he continued to sing baritone in works from Bach to Bernstein throughout his life. He also was a great dance partner, having learned the waltz and cha-cha at Miss Donnan's Cotillion as a teenager.

At St. John's College ('84), he was active in campus events, including the famous croquet rivalry between St. John's (32) and the Naval Academy (9). He went on to serve his Alma Mater as a Director of the Alumni Association and on the Board of Visitors and Governors. After graduating from St. John's, he learned to speak German in record time and worked for the Bank of Liechtenstein in both Vaduz and Frankfurt, Germany before returning to the U.S. to attend the Booth School of Management at the University of Chicago.

Claiborne moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and worked as an investment manager for Thornburg Investment Management Partners for several years. He excelled at communicating complex financial concepts to clients and colleagues alike. Eventually he returned to the East Coast, first to Alexandria and later to Lewes, Delaware where he co-founded the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Fund, which directs venture capital to entrepreneurs in a geographically diverse and equitable framework.

His kindness, compassion, and good humor affected those he encountered from all walks of life. Claiborne is remembered by his family and friends as a bon vivant, possessor of numerous bow ties, automobile enthusiast, avid reader, and wonderful traveling companion. He is survived by his brother Tom and his wife Diana Lynn, his sister Frances and her husband Eric, and his brother John. He was predeceased by his parents, Lewis T. Booker and Nancy Brogden Booker. Claiborne also leaves behind his Aunt Cynthia Booker, his Aunt Constance Moe, his Uncle Don Moe, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Burial will be private. A gathering of family and friends is planned for December 14th in Richmond. Memorial gifts may be made to St. John's College, The Fund for St. John's: https://community.stjohnscollege.edu/giving.