Louis Rukeyser
1933-2006
As many of you know, Louis Rukeyser died May 2 at his home in Connecticut. We have lost a great man who was an inspiration to millions of investors — and to those of us who had the honor of working with him.

Quoted from www.rukeyser.com

I was 19 when I met Louis Rukeyser in 1989. I was working room service at Harbor Court. Mr. Rukeyser had taped his Wall Street week program in Maryland and enjoyed staying at the Inner Harbor, even though the MPT's studios were in Owings Mills Maryland.

When I had first started the morning shift it was on Friday mornings that Mr. Rukeyser was an enigma to the morning staff. When he called down everyone for his Friday morning ritual every one in the room service department cringed. They all laughed and decided that the new guy should be the one to wait.

Mr. Rukeyser was a rockstar to the the financial world and rockstars want the royal treatment sometimes. He was famed for ordering Blackberries/Rasberries with cream on the side (never on top). He was very particular and the other other staff members did not afford him the respect he wanted or understand his notoriety.

Mr. Rukeyser and I had hit it off in some mysterious way. I respected him and he had asked for me to serve him when I was there on Fridays. I always recall him having a very organized room, the Wall Street Journal at arms reach and always in a bath robe. I waited on Mr. Rukeyser for eight months when I decided I wanted to get into the radio business.

I never had any real experience in radio with thye exception of an internship, so I felt I needed a good reference to find employment. I had asked Mr. Rukeyser to write one for, I figured the worst he could say is no. He said yes and wrote me a wonderful glowing reference.

Not only did he write the reference for me, but he also allowed me to video tape him for a student project I was working on. I was in a video class and had film various interviews with prominent county executives as well a segment with Mr. Rukeyser. It was a rousing success.

I recall he was a bit of a stutterer when you met him in person, but when that camera came on he was flawless, a complete perfectionist.

After I had gotten my job at B104 I called Mr. Rukeyser to thank him and he called me back and we spoke for 5 minutes. That was the last contact I had had with him.

I owe alot to Mr. Rekeyser for helping me early in my career. He was an inspiration to me personally and an honor knowing him. I became a huge fan of Wall Street Week and was disappointed that MPT discontinued the show, but I'll always remembered his raspberries with cream on the side.

God Bless - You'll be missed Mr. Rukeyser