Joseph D. "Paul" Riviere

RIVIERE, JOSEPH D. "PAUL"

Died November 13, 2003 at home from cancer at age 79. Survivors are sons, Scott Dyer Riviere and Rhett Canfield Riviere; grandchildren, Ashley Riviere and Camden Riviere; sister, Mrs. Nancy J. Hill and long-time partner, George J. Myers, Jr. Born in Columbus, Ohio, his parents moved to Miami Beach in 1930 and he grew up on Star Island. Before entering military service in 1943, he attended Virginia Military Institute and the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. In 1943 he graduated from Army Air Corp Officers Candidates School and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant. He graduated from the Air Intelligence School. He was in training to go ashore in the third wave of the amphibious assault on Japan when the war ended. Back in civilian life, he became a radio newscaster on WMAL, Washington, D.C. and also announcer on ABC network programs on Station WMAL TV. In 1950 he went back on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. In 1951 he married Marilynn Himes of Washington, D.C. He graduated pilot training in 1952 and flew fighter jets in combat in Korea. In 1953 he received a commercial pilots license. He apprenticed with a large investment banking firm and became president of a small Washington, D.C. brokerage company, J.D. Riviere & Company, Inc. He also formed an investment banking company, Riviere Realty Trust, a publicly owned real estate securities. In 1963 the formed Rivierie Realty Trust, of Real Estate Investment Trusts. He was past president of of the YMCA of Washington, D.C. In 1995 he received a U.S. Coast Guard captain's license and masters license for operation of vessels up to 50 tons. Always interested in historic preservation he worked on restoring an important colonial building in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was past president of the Vizcaya Volunteer Guides, past member of the The Vizcaya Policy Committee, past trustee of the Trust for Villa Vizcaya and a member of The Vizcayans. He was a member of the Metropolitan Club of Washington, D.C. and the Annapolis Yacht Club. A life long sailor, he was often to be seen cruising Biscayne Bay aboard his beloved Sundance. In memory contributions may be sent to the J.D. Paul Rivierie Endowment for Education, care of The Vizcaya Volunteer Guides, c/o Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, 3251 South Miami, Avenue, Miami, Florida 33129.