Norton Reamer ’58, a life trustee and former chair of the board, is being remembered for his leadership, intellect and generosity.
Reamer, a prominent investment entrepreneur, passed away March 20, 2026 at his home in Jamestown, R.I. He was 90.
“Norton brought remarkable energy, intellectual curiosity, kindness and generosity to all he did,” President Elizabeth Kiss said in a message to the Board. “We are grateful for Norton's life, leadership, and service and will hold his widow Rita and their family in our hearts at this sad time.”
He was the chief investment officer and CEO of Putnam Investments in the 1970s, and he founded United Asset Management in 1980 and led it for 20 years. In 2003, he founded Asset Management Finance and led the firm through 2013. Since 2000, he served as president of Unicorn Corporation. Each firm was a leader in its investment approach and organizational structure.
As a Union alumnus, he was a trustee from 1973 through 2007, serving as chair from 1990 to 1994 after which he was named a life trustee. He received the Alumni Gold Medal in 1993, and the Founders Medal in 1995. A generous donor with a giving record of 64 consecutive years, he supported the Union Fund, engineering and computer science and the Reamer Campus Center, which is named in memory of his parents, Ruth Fillett and Murray Reamer. He served as chair of the Bicentennial Campaign.
He visited campus in 2016 to discuss his book, Investment: A History. Co-authored with Jesse Downing, the book chronicles the democratization of investing, once a privilege only of the elite, and seeks to educate the investor and level the playing field.
He was an electrical engineering and economics major at Union, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and received his master’s degree with honors from Harvard Business School in 1960.
Norton Reamer talks with a student during a 2016 event on campus.
”Norton Reamer was an extraordinary person,” recalled Stephen C. Ainlay, president emeritus. “He had a keen mind and an ability to analyze complex situations - traits Norton would have attributed, at least in large part, to his years at Union College.” Ainlay also cited Reamer as an important mentor to other members of the Board. Ainlay and his wife, Judith, were close with the Reamers, who lived nearby in the Boston area.
Roger Hull, Union’s 17th president, joined the College when Reamer was chair of the Board. “ I had great respect for Norton, socialized with him regularly, and really liked him,” Hull said. “Since Norton had run a large organization, he understood the clear line between oversight and micro-management. As a result, he was a great chair. He always questioned matters to make sure he fully understood what was being proposed and, after being convinced of the course of action being recommended, fully supported the proposed action.”
Survivors include his wife, Rita; a daughter, Arden; and a son, Jason..
A celebration of his life is planned for September, according to an obituary published by the family.