John L. Weinberg, 81; Longtime Goldman Sachs Executive
John L. Weinberg, 81, who served as senior partner and chairman of the management committee of the investment firm Goldman Sachs from 1976 to 1990, died Monday in Greenwich, Conn., of complications from a recent fall.
Three generations of Weinbergs have guided Goldman in the 76 years since Sidney Weinberg -- John Weinberg’s father -- rose to lead what is now one of the most profitable securities firms in the world.
Born in Scarsdale, N.Y., John Weinberg graduated from Princeton and earned his MBA at Harvard. He joined Goldman in 1950, fresh out of business school.
He served as a lieutenant in the Marine Corps in the Pacific during World War II. He was recalled and promoted to captain during the Korean War.
Weinberg presided over Goldman during some of the most transformative years on Wall Street. While investment banks such as Drexel Burnham Lambert embraced corporate raiders in the 1980s, Goldman declined to work on hostile takeovers.
Weinberg’s own clients included the Bronfman family and Seagram Co., the Canadian liquor company it founded; and newspaper publisher Knight Ridder. Weinberg managed the merger of Knight Newspapers and Ridder Publications in 1974.
