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Rodman Leland Drake

February 2, 1943-June 24, 2014

Rodman Leland Drake, 71, died peacefully on June 24, 2014 at his home in Manhattan surrounded by his family. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer. Rod was born in Terre Haute, Indiana to Helen Frederick Drake, an international concert pianist trained under Alicia de Larrocha, and Colonel Leland Rodman Drake, a West Point career military officer. Rod was an Army brat, roaming from Texas, Kansas, Virginia, Colorado, Bogota, Colombia, and Santiago, Chile-where he attended The Grange School before matriculating at The Hotchkiss School. Rod studied at Yale University graduating in the class of 1965. He played on the varsity golf team helping Yale to an undefeated season in his final year. After Yale, Rod served two years as a Lieutenant in the US Army’s Intelligence Division. After his military service, he graduated with an MBA from Harvard University in 1969, and began work as a consultant for Cresap McCormick and Paget, a leading international management consulting firm, quickly ascending the ranks becoming their youngest CEO and managing director at the age of 37, leading CMP for more than decade, and conducting their merger with Towers Perrin. Clients took him all over the world, with stations in the Middle East, Mexico, and Brazil. In Brazil, he met and married his first wife, LenirLeme Lambert Drake, with whom he had two sons. He continued his career as an experienced chairman, CEO and corporate director with more than 35 years in management consulting, private equity, financial services, infrastructure development, and biopharmaceuticals. Until his death, Rod was the chairman of the Columbia Atlantic Funds, and the Brookfield and Helios Funds, a board member and chairman of the compensation committee at Celgene Corporation, and a board member of Chimerix Inc. Until 2010, Rod served as chairman and interim CEO of Crystal River Capital, where he managed the successful sale of the company to Brookfield. From 1997 to 2007, he was managing director of Baringo Capital, a private equity group specializing in mining, which he co-founded and was responsible for investments, finance and administration. Previously, Rod was co-chairman of KMR Power Company, a developer of independent power projects in Latin America. Rod loved his work and the challenge of solving complex problems-and the rewarding relationships formed with his colleagues. He was a trustee of Animal Medical Center and the creator of a PEN Biography Award in his wife’s name. Rod lived a vibrant, colorful, and active life. In twelve years living in Latin America, and his travels around the world-including driving the Pan American Highway from Colorado to Chile in 1963-were cherished and part of his fabric as curious adventurer and entrepreneurial spirit. He was a passionate collector, assembling one of the world’s preeminent collections of American Illustration art. He was unassuming, gracious, and sage, marveled at the world’s endless beauty, and was devoted to his family, his friends,his dogs, and thankful for the wonderful opportunities and experiences in life. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Rod is survived by his wife of 17 years Jacqueline Weld Drake, his sons Stephan Drake and Philip Drake, a sister, Joan Drake, nephews Leland Fox and Gregory Fox, an aunt, Fran Drake, his sisters-in-law Mercedes Levin, Martha Bograd, and Estrellita Brodsky, his brother-in-law Daniel Brodsky, and their children. A funeral service will be held on July 1, 2014 at 2:30 pm at The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church 440 West 21st New York, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Animal Medical Center of New York City and Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education.