Back in town. Yesterday morning many New Yorkers awoke to the very sad email message that Rodman (Rod) Drake had died the night before, in his sleep, surrounded by his family at his apartment on Park Avenue. Rod had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three and a half months before. He had undergone some treatment and been hospitalized recently. Although his friends all knew of his illness, yesterday was the day that he had planned to host a birthday party for his wife Jackie at their home.
A graduate of Yale, Class of ’65, he received his B.A. in Latin American Studies, and later acquired an MBA at Harvard Business School. Investment advisor, consultant, investor, board member, a passionate collector of American illustration art and a Dog’s Best Friend (he’d served as a Director of the Animal Medical Center), in the following almost five decades from his graduation at Yale, Rod had served on many corporate boards, as well funds and investment groups.
The father of two sons by his first wife, he was a friend to many (including lifelong friendships with his suitemates from Yale. He and Jackie, author and biographer, the former Jacqueline Bograd Weld, married in December 1998 in a ceremony in Jackie’s apartment before 30 guests and Rod’s dog, Vasco de Gama.
Their friend Susan Cheever who attended, described the couple to the New York Times, “She’s like a parrot, and he’s like an owl. She’s very colorful and flamboyant, and he’s solid and sweet and wise. And he goes out a night, which she requires.”
It was a good one. The marriage to Jackie also brought him a social life, which Cheever referred to. Jackie is very active philanthropically, particularly with Casita Maria. Rod had previously been one of those who tended to stay close to the hearth when not working. A few years ago, they bought a house in Palm Beach for winter weekends and vacations, which went along with the active social life he took on his new marriage.
The Funeral is planned for Tuesday July 1st at 2:30 pm at The General Theological Seminary of The Episcopal Church at 440 West 21st Street (between Ninth and Tenth Avenues). |
