Biondi, Michael J. (11/12/2007)

From our 30th reunion memorial service

Michael Biondi died suddenly on November 12th, 2007, at his home in Connecticut. Mike majored in History and English, played varsity baseball, and went on for his J.D. and M.B.A. at Penn. Mike has been a tireless Dartmouth fundraiser, and we remember him at this Park, his last gift - with his wife Cindy - to the College.

Michael J. Biondi died unexpectedly on November 12, 2007 at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut. Mike was co-chairman of investment banking for Lazard, a role he had held since 2003. He had advised billionaire investor Carl Icahn in his effort to boost Time Warner’s share price by breaking up the company. Mike received an MBA and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He believed deeply in the value of a Dartmouth education, the role of philanthropy in keeping it strong, and the importance of volunteer leadership in making it happen. Mike and his wife, Cynthia ‘80, were Co-Chairs of the Dartmouth College Fund Committee and helped the Fund achieve record-breaking success. He was a baseball fanatic, statistician and historian, and a devoted Mets fan. Mike loved nothing more than playing baseball with his boys. Survivors include his wife and four sons, Mike Jr. ‘10, James, William and Cameron.

From our January 2008 class newsletter
MICHAEL J. BIONDI, 1957-2007
Our classmate and friend, Mike Biondi, passed away suddenly on November 12th at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Mike received an A.B. from Dartmouth in History and English. As an undergraduate, Mike loved playing varsity baseball and spending time in the River Cluster with Cindy Ginn ‘80, who later became his wife, and his close cirlce of friends. Living in French Hall was among Mike’s greatest memories of his years at Dartmouth.

After Dartmouth, Mike received a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School.  Mike began his career as an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York. Mike was then a founding partner of Wasserstein, Perella & Co., and served as its Chairman and CEO from 1996 until its acquisition by Dresdner, Kleinwort Benson in 2001. At Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, Mike served at Co-Chief Executive of the Americas and Co-Head of Global investment Banking prior to moving to Lazard Freres in 2003 where he was Co-Chair of the Investment Banking division.

Mike and his wife, Cindy Ginn Biondi ’80, were married for 28 years and have four boys, Michael, Jr., James, William and Campbell. Mike Jr., is a Dartmouth ‘10.

Mike was an avid skier and golfer, and was a serious wine collector and bird hunting enthusiast. He was a baseball fanatic, statistician and historian, and was a devoted Mets fan. He loved nothing more than playing baseball with his four boys. He also completed the New York Times crossword puzzle every day and could finish Saturday’s puzzle as easily as most of us complete Monday’s. Mike continued to be active with Dartmouth where he and Cindy co-chaired the Dartmouth College Fund and served on the Presidential Leadership Council. At Penn, Mike was Chair of the Law School’s Institute for Law and Economics. He was also a board member of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association.

Mike helped lead our 20th and 25th Reunion fundraising efforts and has been an integral part of our class’ and the College’s fundraising activities.  Under Mike and Cindy’s leadership over the past several years, the Dartmouth College Fund has achieved record-breaking success. We will miss Mike so much and will always be grateful for his tremendous support and leadership over the years.
With sadness, Peggy Epstein Tanner and Laurie Laidlaw Roulston

From an e-mail to 1979 Class Officers and other friends, November 14, 2007

Dear Classmates,

We are so sorry to write, but we wanted you to know that our classmate and friend, Mike Biondi, passed away suddenly Monday night. Mike led our class 20th and 25th Reunion fundraising efforts and has been such an integral part of our class’ activities and the College’s. Over the past years, he and his wife, Cindy Ginn Biondi ‘80, have co-chaired the DCF and under their leadership they helped the Fund achieve record-breaking success.

As an undergraduate, Mike loved playing varsity baseball and spending time down in the River Cluster with Cindy and his friends. Mike was one of the few people we knew who said that his years in French Hall were among his greatest memories of his years at Dartmouth. Mike enjoyed an incredibly successful career working for many years at Wasserstein Perella and then moving to Lazard Freres to Chair the Investment Banking division. Mike and Cindy have four boys and his oldest son, Mike Jr., is a Dartmouth ‘10.

Mike’s funeral will be held on Friday, November 16, at St Catherine’s, 4 Riverside Avenue, in Riverside, Connecticut, at 11:00am with a luncheon reception following at Greenwich Country Club.

We will miss Mike so much and will always be grateful for his tremendous support and leadership over the years.

With sadness,
Peggy Epstein Tanner
Laurie Laidlaw Roulston

From the 25th Reunion Book:
Favorite Class:  The Golden Age of Spain
Favorite Professor:  David Lagomarsino, Michael Carter
Favorite Dartmouth Activity:  Intramurals [Mike’s hardball prowess made him a real ringer for French Hall’s IM softball!] 
Favorite Song:  Cold, Cold, Cold and Tripe Face Boogie (Little Feat)
Miss Most About Dartmouth:  Sense of community, and the time and opportunity to explore new academic pursuits

In memory of Mike Biondi, the Class of 1979 has purchased the following book for Baker Library:

Nadelhoffer, Hans, Cartier
Publisher: Chronicle Books, 2007