Donald R. Gant, age 96, passed away on Friday, July 18 at his home in Amelia Island, FL.

Born and raised in Monmouth County, NJ, he was a former longtime resident of Harding Twp, NJ. Thanks to the GI Bill and generous scholarship support, Gant was able to attend and graduate Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and subsequently from Harvard Business School (Baker Scholar).

He spent his entire professional career with Goldman, Sachs & Co., New York, from 1954-1990, in Corporate Finance. He was named a partner in the firm in 1965 and was lead account manager for many blue chip clients including Ford Motor Company, Monsanto, Proctor & Gamble. Gant was investment banker to the firm, serving as senior financial adviser to four Goldman Senior Partners or CEOs, from the mid-1960s until his retirement, and orchestrated a landmark private investment by Sumitomo Bank of Japan in 1986, paving the way for other large private financings and ultimately for the firm’s initial public offering, in 1999.

He served on the boards of directors of Ford Motor Company, Diebold, Stride Rite Corporation, ABC Rail Products, and other public companies over the course of his career. A generous philanthropist focused on encouraging talent and the pursuit of higher education among disadvantaged youth, he will be missed by many organizations and professionals working in those fields, and by the individuals who benefited from his kindness.

Gant was preceded in death by his wife of 50+ years, the former Jane H. Taylor, in 2005; he is survived by his children, Laura G. Lilienfield (Peter), Irvington, NY; Christopher T. (Sarah), Newton, MA; Sarah R., Jacksonville, FL; Alison A., Cambridge, MA; and five grandchildren. Services and interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a memorial contribution to either Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, Fernandina Beach, FL or Beyond 90, Inc., Jacksonville, FL.