Ryan Vollmer, an executive director at Morgan Stanley, died on Dec. 19, while vacationing in Antigua, in the Caribbean.
Vollmer had been with Morgan Stanley since 2014 after leaving his post as director at RBC Capital Markets, where he worked for 11 years. Local police in Antigua said Thursday that Vollmer drowned and authorities investigating the death were awaiting autopsy results. He was 44 years old.
Vollmer was instrumental in developing Morgan Stanley's public finance California Community College District business and was a friend and mentor to many in the firm, according to Charlie Visconsi, co-head of public finance.
"We will miss his joy for life and the energy he brought us all," Visconsi said. "Please keep Ryan, his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers."
Ed Maduli, vice chancellor of administrative services at West Valley Mission Community College District worked with Vollmer since 2001, when Maduli was the assistant superintendent/vice president for administrative services at Cuesta College.
"Ryan was instrumental in my obtaining [tax revenue anticipation notes] annually to provide the college with cash flow. When I moved to WVM CCD, I continued to work with Ryan in the issuance of general obligation bonds from both Measure H and Measure C (both passed by the voters) and the refunding of lease revenue bonds and GO bonds," said Maduli. "We had developed a collaborative relationship, but also a friendship that has lasted over 15 years."
In October, Vollmer helped the district maintain its triple-A ratings and complete a refunding of lease revenue bonds that saved $10.8 million.
"I personally will miss working with Ryan, as he always had the district's interest in mind and he was always looking long term," Maduli said. "He was also a close friend."
Andy Suleski, vice president administration of Butte-Glenn CCD and also the current president of the Association of Chief Business Officers for California CCDs said that the California college community is shocked and heartbroken by the news of Ryan's death.
"Ryan prided himself on building close relationships and he attended many of our conferences, and always seemed to have the time to give you his whole-hearted attention," said Suleski. "You couldn't help but feel like you were one of his closest friends. He was someone you just wanted to be around and his light hearted and fun personality was contagious. I was fortunate in that Ryan purchased a home for his mother in Chico, Calif., just 15 minutes from my college. I felt like I received special treatment from Ryan, but then again, he made us all feel that way."
Suleski added that Vollmer helped guide many of Butte's college districts through the bond rating and issuance process to issue much needed general obligation bonds that helped transform the facilities and landscapes of the colleges. Millions of students at the California community colleges are succeeding in college and enjoying new and upgraded facilities at our colleges in part because to the work Ryan did, Suleski said.
"Even when we were not issuing bonds to build and renovate our facilities, Ryan was helping us to refinance or refund our existing bonds to help save our taxpayers millions of dollars. At Butte College alone, Ryan helped save our taxpayers approximately $13 million simply by refunding previously issued bonds," said Suleski. "The support Ryan provided made the process easy, (and made many of us look good with positive press in the media as well). Without Ryan, the community college industry in California is left with a huge hole to fill. We will be forced to continue to do our work in his absence to improve our facilities and help our students succeed, but for many of us, and especially me personally, it will never be the same. He will be missed by us all."
A service is set for Jan. 14 at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, Calif. at 1 pm., with more details to be announced.
"The chief business officers of the many college districts that have worked with Ryan are rallying to honor him by supporting a student scholarship in his memory," Suleski said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
