Former Lehigh University graduate, Ronald J. Ulrich, passed away on February 8, 2025, at age 80. At Lehigh University, Ronald wasn’t only an academically fine student but also an elite tennis player.
Ulrich shared a close bond with Lehigh University throughout his lifetime and became part of their Board of Trustees in 1993.
A celebrated man in his community, Ronald J. Ulrich became a well-known man among his peers in the finance world.
He was the founder, chairman, and chief investment officer of Equinox Capital Management LLC, a company he established in 1989.
Ronald devoted his time to playing tennis and squash and was inducted into the Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.
But even after leaving the athletic world behind him to pursue a career in finance, Ronald continued making a huge impact in it.
Ulrich was the principal donor of the Ulrich Varsity Tennis Courts and seventeen outdoor tennis courts.
The businessman didn’t only impact the tennis team of Lehigh University; he was also a longtime supporter of the university’s wrestling program.
He established the Ronald J. Ulrich Wrestling Endowment Fund and endowed the Peter W. Likins Wrestling Scholarship.
Ulrich’s family has yet to make a public statement, with the only statement being released by Lehigh University.
The former tennis player is survived by his wife, Christie, and his three sons, Adrian, Benner, and Collier Ulrich.
Ronald J. Ulrich And His Philanthropic Works Throughout The Years
Ronald J. Ulrich’s philanthropic works have impacted several students and community members, and his legacy will live through them.
Ulrich graduated from Lehigh University with degrees in engineering and business and later attended New York University to earn his MBA.
He worked with Morgan Stanley for 15 years, during which he cofounded their asset management division.
It was after gaining experience during his time at Morgan Stanley that Ronald decided to establish Equinox Capital Management in 1996.
At Lehigh University, Ronald served as the chair from 1996-2002.
During this time, Ulrich became campaign chair of Shine Forever: The Campaign of Lehigh, a $500 million fundraising effort to fund academic programs and endow scholarships.
Following Ulrich’s death, President Joseph J. Helble said,
Ron Ulrich was instrumental to so many endeavors at Lehigh, from from Zoellner Arts Center to the Ulrich Sports Complex, providing endowments for chairs of Lehigh’s orchestra studies and music.
via: Lehigh University
Helble continued, “His legacy will live on through the thousands of students and community members who have attended a game, match, or performance at Lehigh. Ron will be greatly missed.”
A man who loved art and loved to preserve it, Ulrich was a supporter of Zoellner Arts Center.
He officially opened Zoellner during its inaugural weekend when he introduced the New York Philharmonic.
It was his and his wife, Christie’s generosity that allowed the music department to appoint two endowed chairs in the orchestral studies and choral arts.
As a former athlete of Lehigh University, Ulrich greatly contributed to the university’s sports program through various funds.
The businessman helped in the renovations of Cundey Varsity House, Grace Hall, Caruso Wrestling Complex at Grace Hall, and Lehigh’s softball facility.
Ronald J. Ulrich’s Sons Followed In His Footsteps
As we previously said, the Lehigh University alumnus is survived by his wife, Christie, and their three sons.
The couple’s oldest and middle children, Benner Ulrich and Adrian Ulrich, have followed in his father’s footsteps.
Benner Ulrich graduated from Lehigh University during the 90s and became the Director, and Associate Director at UBS Investment Bank.
He served the position for seven years before joining Oliver Press Partners as a Principal Analyst.
So, like his father, Benner worked in the investment field. In 2009, he joined Breithorn Capital Management, a company established by Ronald in 2008.
Benner worked with his father’s company until 2017 and since then he has been working as a Portfolio Manager for Tocqueville Asset Management.
In 2015, Benner tied the knot with Samantha Whiting and their wedding day photo is the last post he has shared on his Facebook handle.
Ronald and Christie’s middle child, Adrian Ulrich, also graduated from Lehigh University.
He earned his Architecture degree from Lehigh and later earned his MBA from Columbia Business School.
Adrian previously worked as a Project Architect and switched his career to finance in 2005.
In 2009, he became the COO of Breithorn Capital Management and later worked as an Investment Manager at Tocqueville Asset Management.
Adrian tied the knot with Marina Morton Rutherfurd on November 10, 2018, and their wedding was huge news with even The New York Times writing an article about it.
Ronald J. Ulrich’s youngest son, Collier Ulrich, is available on Facebook but hasn’t shared much about him, but it is clear that he is a dog lover.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- In 2003, Ronald J. Ulrich was awarded the Lehigh New York Club’s L-in-Life Award. He also received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Lehigh during the 2005 Commencement Ceremonies.
- Ulrich was a former board member of The Wildlife Conservation Society and The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and an active supporter of wildlife conservation as Chairman of the African Parks Foundation.
