We write at this time to honor Richard Doncaster, a lately deceased good friend of the American Institute for Financial Analysis (AIER) and its wholly owned subsidiary the American Funding Companies (AIS). Richard was concerned with AIER’s governance in a single kind or one other since he grew to become a Voting Member in 1973 and was awarded Emeritus Trustee standing in 2017.
Richard got here to know AIER because of a private and household objective to save lots of, make investments, and turn into financially safe. These objectives led him to be an avid reader of economic recommendation. He stumbled throughout an AIER booklet referred to as, Methods to Keep away from Monetary Tangles, and began studying something he might discover from AIER. He grew to become so enamored of the content material that he referred to as the founder to ask some questions. After discussing AIER’s Analysis Experiences and Financial Training Bulletin newsletters with our founder, Edward C. Harwood, Richard grew to become an unapologetic “gold bug,” an advocate of sound cash, and Voting Member of our non-profit group. He remained among the many most staunch advocates for AIER and, together with his household, shut buddies with the Harwood household, till his passing in 2024.
Richard was an AIER Voting Member for over 50 years, Voting Member Standing Committee member for over 10 years, and a member of the Board of Trustees for over 16 years earlier than being awarded Trustee Emeritus standing in 2017. His spouse Betty would usually volunteer her time to organize for and carry out logistical duties on the Annual Assembly of Voting Members. The Doncaster and Harwood youngsters helped or performed close by whereas Richard attended official conferences, listening to dialogue with attribute consideration earlier than including an ignored perspective.
Richard was identified to maintain with him a number of copies of AIER’s publications, which he would give to folks receptive to his pleasant recommendation. His fast wit and New England-accented sarcasm made him an entertaining evangelist of AIER’s analysis and good friend to many members and staff. Over time, he collected what he thought have been essentially the most salient and enduring messages within the type of a number of AIER publications.
An architectural engineer and industrial supervisor by coaching, Richard labored for Polaroid Company for 20 years earlier than taking plenty of roles at Constancy Investments for over 10 years, along with self-employment ventures. His autodidactic thirst for data put him in roles starting from senior undertaking engineer for Polaroid services to Senior Analysis Agent guaranteeing Constancy Investments information high quality and testing their pc system consumer expertise.
Richard leaves behind his youngsters Steven, Scott, and Lori. We intention to honor his legacy forward with a compilation of his favourite works. And naturally, the success of AIER and our “Everyman” mission is an affidavit to his contributions!
