It is with deep regret that we announce the sudden and unexpected death of our friend and colleague, Rod Boone who passed away in Los Angeles on Friday, March 15, 2019. He is survived by his loving wife Rahel and his three daughters Kristen, Cassandra and Lindsey. He was a doting grandfather to 3 young grandsons.
Rod was a remarkably considerate and selfless man. He was well liked and respected by all those who worked with him – through good times and difficult challenges.
A true leader, Rod was always direct but also kind and gentle. Not one of us can remember him raising his voice even in the most stressful of discussions. He had a self-deprecating sense of humor and a sharp wit. We will forever miss Rod’s gift for injecting levity into our work. His deep and varied experience as a healthcare executive was a boundless resource for our staff. We are all better people for having known him.
Rod joined DWHP in 2006 and was a vital resource to our portfolio company managers for over a decade. Prior to joining our firm, Rod held numerous senior executive roles in a variety of healthcare businesses including Allegiance and Baxter Healthcare. He later served as President and CEO of Royce Medical Holdings and President and CEO of Syncor Pharmaceuticals. Through his work at those institutions and during his long tenure with DWHP, Rod mentored hundreds of managers and investors and touched thousands of lives.
Rod’s generosity and profound impact was not limited to his professional life. Rod’s heart led him to become deeply invested in the lives of the under-privileged. In 2008, Rod founded the Mesesso Foundation to sponsor vulnerable and disadvantaged children in Ethiopia in order to provide them access to education and healthcare.
Rod’s faith was a mainstay in his later life, and he was an active member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
We hope to remember Rod and honor his legacy by emulating the qualities he exhibited every day. He has made life richer for all of us and we will miss him dearly.
