Benjamin S. Wolfe

Benjamin S. Wolfe, a beloved member of the Short Hills, New Jersey community, passed away
on Saturday, July 8, 2023. He was born on August 18, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey, to parents
Bertha and Milton Wolfe. Ben grew up in Newark and graduated from Weequahic High School
before earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and later an MBA from Rutgers University in
Newark. At both schools, he was an outstanding athlete, starring on the baseball, basketball
and swim teams. He was a Captain in Medical Services in the New Jersey National Guard.
Ben began a remarkable career in the field of public finance in the controller’s office at Columbia
University in 1965, followed by similar roles at Adelphi University and the University of Chicago.
He then led the Illinois Health Facilities Authority for 3 years before joining the municipal finance
division of Goldman Sachs in New York City in 1977. In his 18 years at GS, Ben was an
innovative and diversified public financier, with heavy focus on healthcare and higher education.
He led financing of more than $20 billion for a diverse group of not-for-profit institutions and
governmental institutions across 16 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. He helped
lead early innovation of GNMA and FHA Insured financing programs and served as investment
banker and financial advisor to numerous prominent healthcare facilities, particularly in Boston
and New Jersey. Ben also had significant advisory roles for the City of Phoenix, New York City
Health and Hospitals Corporation and Dartmouth College. Ben continued his career with senior
positions at Prudential Securities, E-Bond Trade.com, Merrill Lynch and ButcherMark Financial
Advisors. Ben was an invaluable colleague, partner and mentor to many throughout his career.
Ben’s passion for public service led him to roles on several boards of public institutions. He was
a member of the Board of Overseers of the Rutgers University Foundation for 20 years,
including Chair of its Audit Committee, and member of the Board and Treasurer for the Illinois
College of Optometry for 22 years. He was also on the Board of the Optometric Center of New
York and most recently served as Secretary of the Board of Weequahic High School Alumni
Association.
Ben married the love of his life, Anita Mironov, and they shared 56 beautiful years together
raising three children, Jennifer, Jonathan, and Elizabeth. The family settled in Short Hills, NJ,
where Ben became a dedicated pillar of the community. Ben was an enthusiastic fan of Rutgers
athletics and loved to share a game with friends. He enjoyed a rich life of travel with family and
friends, most notably to his favorite beachside town of Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
He will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his family, his generosity to his friends,
his philanthropic spirit, and his zest for life. He helped to make the world around him a better
place and was known for his humor and intellect. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him,
especially the group of lifelong childhood and college friends and fraternity brothers in the New
Jersey, greater Washington DC and Florida areas.

Ben is survived by his beloved wife Anita; his children Elizabeth Wolfe Agro and Jonathan Wolfe
and his son in-law Terrence Gray; his grandchildren Jessica, Zoe and Sophia Agro; and his
siblings Anne Katz and Ira Wolfe and sister in-law Kari Wolfe. Ben was preceded in death by his
cherished daughter Jennifer Wolfe.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 16, at 11:00 am at Temple B’nai Jeshurun, 1025
South Orange Avenue, Short Hills, NJ. The service will be streamed at this web address:
https://venue.streamspot.com/event/Mzk4NzI4MQ==
Ben had deep affection for Weequahic High School and, throughout his life, he invested his
time, capital, passion and intellect on behalf of those he loved. Contributions to a scholarship in
memory of Benjamin Wolfe can be made to:
Weequahic High School Alumni Association
Post Office Box 494
Newark, NJ 07101
or on-line at:
https://weequahicalumni.org/scholarship-donations/
Please put 'Ben Wolfe' in the Memo section.