Benjamin S. Wolfe, former public finance banker, dies at 85

Benjamin S. Wolfe of Short Hills, New Jersey, a former public finance banker passed away on Saturday, July 8, 2023. He was 85.

He was born on Aug. 18, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey, to Bertha and Milton Wolfe. He grew up in Newark and graduated from Weequahic High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and later an MBA from Rutgers University.

At both schools, he was an outstanding athlete, starring on the baseball, basketball and swim teams. He was a Captain in Medical Services in the New Jersey National Guard.

His career in the field of public finance began in the controller’s office at Columbia University in 1965 and similar roles at Adelphi University and the University of Chicago followed.

He then led the Illinois Health Facilities Authority for three years before joining the municipal finance division of Goldman Sachs in New York City in 1977.

In his 18 years at Goldman, Mr. Wolfe was an innovative and diversified public financier, with heavy focus on healthcare and higher education. He led financings totaling more than $20 billion for a diverse group of not-for-profit institutions and governmental institutions across 16 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

He helped lead early innovation of GNMA- and FHA-insured financing programs and served as investment banker and financial advisor to numerous prominent healthcare facilities, particularly in Boston and New Jersey.

Mr. Wolfe also had significant advisory roles for the city of Phoenix, New York City Health and Hospitals Corp. and Dartmouth College.

He continued his career with senior positions at Prudential Securities, E-Bond Trade.com, Merrill Lynch and ButcherMark Financial Advisors. He was known as an invaluable colleague, partner and mentor to many throughout his career.

His passion for public service led him to roles on several public institutions’ boards. He was a member of the Board of Overseers of the Rutgers University Foundation for 20 years, including chair of its audit committee, and member of the board and treasurer for the Illinois College of Optometry for 22 years.

He was also on the board of the Optometric Center of New York and most recently served as Secretary of the Board of Weequahic High School Alumni Association.

Mr. Wolfe married Anita Mironov, and they shared 56 years, raising three children, Jennifer, Jonathan, and Elizabeth. The family settled in Short Hills, New Jersey.

He was an enthusiastic fan of Rutgers athletics and loved to share a game with friends. He also enjoyed travel , most notably to his favorite beachside town of Puerto Escondido, Mexico.

He will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his family, his generosity to his friends, his philanthropic spirit, and his zest for life. He was known for his humor and intellect.

Mr. Wolfe is survived by his wife Anita; his children Elizabeth Wolfe Agro and Jonathan Wolfe and his son in-law Terrence Gray; his grandchildren Jessica, Zoe and Sophia Agro; and his siblings Anne Katz and Ira Wolfe and sister in-law Kari Wolfe. Ben was preceded in death by his daughter Jennifer Wolfe.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 16, at 11 a.m. at Temple B’nai Jeshurun, 1025 South Orange Avenue, Short Hills, New Jersey.

The service will be streamed at this web address:

https://venue.streamspot.com/event/Mzk4NzI4MQ==

Mr. Wolfe had deep affection for Weequahic High School and, throughout his life, he invested his time, capital, passion and intellect on behalf of those he loved. Contributions to a scholarship in memory of Benjamin Wolfe can be made to:

Weequahic High School Alumni Association
Post Office Box 494
Newark, NJ 07101

or on-line at:

https://weequahicalumni.org/scholarship-donations/

Please put ‘Ben Wolfe’ in the memo section.