California + Los Angeles + Finance | January 24, 2017

GSP’s Co-Founder Rifkind Passes Away

David Rifkind, co-founding principal of Los Angeles-based George Smith Partners (GSP), passed away January 23rd. He succumbed to a very rare, rapidly degenerative and incurable neurological disease.

Rifkind joined GSP in 1996, and most recently led its operations and strategic platform. His emphasis was on restructuring and workouts, and he specialized in the sale of whole loans and portfolios.

Considered one of the industries’ experts in real estate and finance, his interests and intellectual curiosity went well beyond CRE. A classic “Renaissance Man,” Rifkind’s interests included history, current events, wines, music and modern art.

Rifkind grew up in Encino, and graduated from USC in 1987 with degrees in history and international relations. His start in real estate began when he bought his first building at age 22.

He is remembered at GSP as a kind person, generous of spirit, with no pretensions or ego.

A funeral is planned Wednesday, January 25th at 12:30 p.m. at Mt. Sinai Simi Valley. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Jews for Judaism or the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Dennis Kaiser

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About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Content and Public Relations for Connect Commercial Real Estate. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 30 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect’s client content operations and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from content strategy, message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. In his most recent corporate communications roles, he led a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, played a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and was responsible for directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest, the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. In addition to his vast commercial real estate experience, Dennis has worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of residential projects such as Disney’s Celebration in Florida, Ritter Ranch in Palmdale California (7,200 homes, 22,000 acres), WaterColor in Florida and PremierGarage in Phoenix. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as Idea Hall and Macy + Associates. He has earned an outstanding reputation with organization leaders as a trusted advisor, strategic program implementer, consensus builder and exceptional collaborator. Dennis has developed and managed national communications programs for Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, both public and private. He’s successfully worked with journalists across the globe representing clients involved in major-breaking news stories, product launches, media tours, and company news announcements. Dennis has been involved in a host of charitable and community organizations including the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals, BoyScouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and Thunderbirds Charities.

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