Tom Rick, chief investment officer of the $4.6 billion Milwaukee City Employes' Retirement System, died Monday.
Mr. Rick, 51, died in a Milwaukee hospital, where he was admitted Saturday after collapsing at a dance performance featuring his daughter Alexandra at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, said Bernard J. “Jerry” Allen, executive director.
Mr. Rick was revived at the university by paramedics and taken to Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee, Mr. Allen said. Mr. Rick expected to undergo cardiac testing at the hospital Monday, Mr. Allen said. Mr. Allen said he spoke Sunday with Mr. Rick, who said he was doing fine.
Mr. Allen said he went to lunch Friday with Mr. Rick, who was in good spirits and worked as his normal routine. “He was not ill prior to his collapse,” Mr. Allen said.
“We will miss him,” Mr. Allen said. “Those are some big shoes to fill.”
In the interim, Alderman Michael Murphy, longtime chairman of the pension fund's investment committee, the pension fund's “capable staff” and Callan Associates, the pension fund's investment consultant, will handle Mr. Rick's duties, Mr. Allen said.
“Anytime you lose your CIO, your long-term strategy will be affected,” Mr. Allen said. “But we'll be OK in the short run. Our investment continuity will be all right.”
Mr. Rick joined the pension fund in December 2000 as an investment officer. In May 2006, he was promoted to CIO, Mr. Allen said.
Mr. Rick was a lieutenant and pilot in the U.S. Navy who flew F-14s off the USS Enterprise. He graduated at top in his class at Miramar Naval Air Base, Mr. Allen said. Mr. Rick was involved in the naval engagement against Iran in the Persian Gulf in 1988, Mr. Allen said.
“He was the real top gun,” Mr. Allen said.
Mr. Rick is survived by his wife, Karen, another daughter, Elizabeth, and a son, Robert.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Schaff Funeral Home, 5920 W. Lincoln Ave., West Allis, Wis., with a vigil at 7:30 p.m. Services will begin Friday with a visitation at 10 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 5960 W. Loomis Road, Greendale, Wis., until Mass at 11:30 a.m. Interment services will be at 2 p.m. at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove.
