Rutherford Romaine

Rutherford Robbins ("Robb") Romaine, who lived with his wife in Belvedere while battling the last stages of glioblastoma multiforme, a form of brain cancer, died Jan. 21. He was 63.

For the past few months, the Romaines lived in the guest cottage of Belvedere friends and received hospice care there.

Mr. Romaine was born in New York City to Dr. Hunter Huideköper Romaine and Jacqueline Amelia Lane. He was raised in Ardsley Park, N.Y., and spent summers in West Falmouth on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. He graduated from The Harvey School in Katonah, N.Y.; St. Andrew's School in Delaware and Philips Exeter Academy. He went on to earn his bachelor's degree at Yale University, where he was a member of the Society of Orpheus and Bacchus and Skull & Bones.

After college, he went to work in public broadcasting in Canada. He settled in Connecticut. A pioneering businessman in the managed futures industry, he founded The RXR Group, Excalibur Advisors and Round Table Ventures. He served as vice chairman of the Managed Funds Association, formerly Managed Futures Association. He was a member of the advisory board of the Chicago Board of Trade.

A founding partner in French Friend Films, which created and produced television, movie and radio advertising, he was best known for what became a famous Goobers and Raisinets jingle.

Mr. Romaine met his wife, Carol, when the two of them landed roles in a Greenwich community theater production of Gilbert & Sullivan's "H.M.S. Pinafore." They went on to actively participate in and support theater and music groups while raising their four children in Greenwich, Conn.

He was active in his community in many other ways as well, coaching his children's sports teams and helping at church. A lifelong athlete, he was a state tennis champion in high school and also excelled in golf.

He was a member of St. Paul's Church in Riverside, Conn.; Innis Arden Golf Club, Old Greenwich, Conn.; and The Yale Club of New York City. While staying in Belvedere, he attended Christmas Eve services at St. Stephen's Church, and the pastor had visited him several times.