David Ari
Rifkind (March 17,
1965 - January 23, 2017)
SIMI VALLEY,
CA, Jan. 24, 2017 – David Ari Rifkind, a co-founder of George Smith Partners,
has died at 51 from a very rare, rapidly degenerative and incurable
neurological disease, the company said.
He passed
away early yesterday, surrounded by his family and friends. His devotion to his
family was well known, and our hearts go out to his wife Helen, his sons Aaron
and Jonathan, his daughter Jillian, his sister Donna and her husband, Joe.
David will
always be remembered at GSP as a kind person, generous of spirit, with no
pretensions or ego. While very
successful throughout his career as an investor, broker and lender, he remained
humble and sincere.
He was a great listener and cared about what
people had to say. When he spoke, we listened, because his comments and
insights were thoughtful and well-informed.
David’s
choice of words connoted his optimistic outlook on life. His email sign-off was
“Kindly,” and when asked how he was, he always responded “delightful.” When
complimenting someone on a job well done or personal achievement, he always
said “fabulous.”
In our
cyclical and stressful business, with highs and lows, David was always calm,
deliberate and thoughtful, like a “Zen master.”
David grew
up in Encino, the son of Jesse and Thelma Rifkind. Jesse was a key member of the legendary
Xerox PARC Research Lab, which was known for developing the computer mouse and
laser printer.
Thelma had a Masters in
Ornithology and was a career occupational therapist.
David often spoke proudly of his parents’
accomplishments and the loving and supportive upbringing they provided him and
his sister.
David
attended elementary school in Encino, Portola Junior High and Birmingham High
School. He graduated from USC in 1987 with Bachelor of Arts Degrees in History
and International Relations.
While David
was an expert in real estate and finance, David’s interests and intellectual
curiosity went well beyond our business.
He was a classic “Renaissance Man:” he could discuss a wide variety of
subjects including history, current events, wines, music (including jazz, rock
and classical) and modern art.
David was a savvy and discerning collector,
especially of the great LA artists of the 1960s such as Ed Ruscha and others. His childhood curiousity in photography
developed into a lifetime of collecting photographic fine art as well as being
an excellent photographer in his own right.
If you
wanted to know where to find the best BBQ in Kansas when refueling a private
plane from LA-NYC, or selecting a perfect wine with a steak meal, just ask
David.
As a
treasured community leader, David has been serving as Chair of the Board of
Jews for Judaism, a Board Member of the Ziegler School at AJU and Ilan Ramon
Day School and has been active in the Real Estate Cabinet of the Jewish
Federation and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), among
numerous other organizations. He ran the building committee for the Heschel Day
School as they worked on a major expansion.
David’s real
estate career started early. He bought
his first building at age 22, persistently “camping out” at the owner’s office
until he put the project into contract.
David then assembled a capital structure with a community bank and
equity that included a cash advance from his personal credit card.
David went on to own and develop multiple
properties, utilizing his market knowledge and ability to command the metrics
of specific markets to help him get an edge.
David and
his wife, Helen, have been married for 25 years. David’s whole world revolved
around his family.
Whether it was
Aaron’s graduation from USC and landing a prestigious position at AIPAC in
Washington D.C., Jonathan’s budding broadcast career at University of Oregon,
or Jillian’s equestrian and photographic exploits, David reveled in his
children’s success. We admired his
dedication to his family and he was a role model for us all.
As a
co-founding Principal of GSP, David was a mentor to our firm’s younger members,
not just in business, but in how to live life to its fullest.
We will miss
David and will never forget him.
David
Rifkind…A life well lived.
The funeral
for David Rifkind z”l will be held Wednesday, January 25th at 12:30 pm at Mt.
Sinai Simi Valley. The address is 6150
Mt. Sinai Drive, Simi Valley, CA 93063. In Lieu of flowers, the family has asked that
donations be made to Jews for Judaism or the Ziegler School of Rabbinic
Studies.
For media:
Please direct all inquiries to Miki Conant, Jenn Quader, or Judy Brower
at Brower, Miller & Cole.
Phone: (949)
955-7940
