News

TDB thanks the following for their generous contributions since the last update. This money keeps TDB alive and more is welcome!

Blake Byrne #350
Jim Faris #409
Rick Flynn #346
Tom Galloway #865
Neal McNamara #234
Chuck Kuebler #399

William I. Riker, the former President and Chief Underwriting Officer of RenaissanceRe Holding, LTD, died on Saturday, May 15, 2010 after a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Riker joined RenaissanceRe in its founding year, 1993, and retired in December 2007. In addition to serving as company president, Mr. Riker held the previous positions of Chief Operating Officer of RenaissanceRe and President and Chief Executive Officer of Glencoe Group Holdings Ltd., the Dallas-based segment of RenaissanceRe. Prior to joining RenaissanceRe, Mr. Riker was Vice President of Applied Insurance Research (AIR), Inc., one of the leading catastrophe modeling firms in the world, where he was responsible for marketing and educating clients about AIR's CATMAP product. He also was Senior Vice President in charge of treaty and facultative operations for the New York based reinsurer, American Royal Re. Mr. Riker was a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and a Board Member of the International Hurricane Research Center and Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH). In addition, he served on the Board of Visitors of Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering, and he was a Foundation Board Member of Red Bank Community YMCA. Most recently, Mr. Riker founded and was chairman of Q Re. A long time resident of Rumson, NJ, Bill also lived with his family in Bermuda for eleven years. He was the son of the late William I. Riker, a partner with the firm of Riker Danzig of Newark, NJ, and Nancy Quirk Potter of Rumson. Bill attended Rumson Country Day School, The Hotchkiss School, and received a B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University. Whether sailing on the Newport Bermuda race or playing a round of golf with his many friends, Bill embraced life with energy and passion. Everyone who knew Bill will always remember his enthusiasm, humor, and integrity. He was a loving husband, brother, and father and will be missed dearly by his family.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret S. Riker of Rumson; children, Katherine, John, and Edward; his sisters, Elizabeth Q. Riker, Alison R. Friedel, and Cynthia R. Slack; six nieces and nephews; and one grand-nephew.
Visitation will be at The Thompson Memorial Home 310 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. A service in celebration of his life will be held at St. George's by the River, 7 Lincoln Ave Rumson NJ on Wednesday at 2 o'clock pm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Red Bank Community YMCA.
Published in Asbury Park Press on May 17, 2010

ZAVERTNIK, Otis Vernon, age 79, of Chester, Virginia, passed away on Monday, October 12, 2009. He was born in Harrington Park, New Jersey, the son of the late Joseph and Pauline Zettek Zavertnik. Mr. Zavertnik was a graduate of Duke University and served in the United States Marine Corps as a Naval Aviator. He retired from Allied Signal as a Superintendent of Quality Control after approximately 34 years of service. Mr. Zavertnik was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Chester since 1974, where he also served on the vestry. He was a Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America, U.S.A. National Swimming Official and a volunteer in the children's unit at Massey Cancer Center. Mr. Zavertnik is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Betty Zavertnik; children, William O. Zavertnik and fiancee‚ Bobbie Jo Violet, of Akron, Ohio, Richard O. Zavertnik and wife, Jean Ellen, and Phillip O. Zavertnik and wife, Debra, all of Midlothian, Virginia, Timothy O. Zavertnik and wife, Mary Zajac, of Severna Park, Maryland, Jeanne Marie Holden and husband, Bret, of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Pauline Anne Zavertnik and husband, Neal Young, of Fairport, New York; grandchildren, Brad, Ashley, Leigh Anne, South, Alison, Morgan, Mary Ann, Trent, Andrew, Piper, Chase, Sarah, Nathan and Berit; great-grandchild, Nathan Young Junior; brother, Dr. Joseph J. Zavertnik and wife, Helen, of Miami, Florida; and sister, Laverne Z. Waterstreet and husband, John, of Miami. A celebration of his life will take place at St. John's Episcopal Church, Chester, on Thursday, October 15, 2009, at 11 a.m. A reception with the family will immediately follow in the parish hall. Interment will take place at the church yard of St. Michael and All Angel's Episcopal Church, Columbia, South Carolina, on Saturday, November 7, 2009, at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Massey Cancer Center, P.O. Box 980214, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0214, or to St. John's Episcopal Church, 12201 Richmond Street, Chester, Virginia 23831.

Published in the Charlotte Observer onMarch 16, 2010.

If you need more info on the next meeting of the Fifties Group, set for May 17-20, 2011 at Lake Lure contact Doug Flynn # 403 at any of the following:
Doug's Knoll on the 5th Hole
244 Knoll Court
Lake Lure, NC 28746
828/625-2581
dougflynn@bellsouth.net