Arno Rayner, MBA 54, BS 49 (Econ.), an avid supporter of the Haas School who built his career in investment management, passed away in his Tiburon home on Dec. 3 from complications from pneumonia following a series of strokes. He was 82.
After earning his undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, Rayner served two years in the Army Finance Corps during the Korean War. After being honorably discharged, he returned to UC Berkeley to earn his MBA. He went on to work for the Bank of California, Industrial Indemnity, and Bechtel Corp. before founding Rayner Associates in 1977.
Rayner retired as chairman of the board of the renamed Rayner & Haynor in 2009, subsequently becoming chairman emeritus and serving on the advisory board. A chartered financial analyst, Rayner was voted investment professional of the year in 1999 by the San Francisco Bond Club.
In 1986, Rayner endowed a faculty chair in finance and management at the Haas School, which is currently held by Professor Hayne Leland. He was among the “Builders of Berkeley”–benefactors whose lifetime giving totaled at least $1 million in today’s dollars. He served on the executive committee for the Haas School’s building campaign as well as the university’s Keeping the Promise capital campaign.