Deceased September 5, 2017
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In Memory
Nicholas Alexander Rieser ’01 passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 5 in New York City.
Some of us will remember him as a keen debater; others as a talented, stoic goaltender; or, for those who knew him after Amherst, as a loving father and husband. But we will all remember him for his genuineness and loyalty to all the people in his life.
Nick grew up in Northfield, Ill., and came to Amherst after graduating from Phillips Andover Academy.
While he majored in LJST, there were few subjects that failed to pique his curiosity and serve as potential debate fodder. An immense grin often broke out on Nick’s face when he overheard a poorly formulated argument. Nick embraced these debates in the best spirit of Amherst—no matter how heated they became, they were never personal, and you were still his friend, teammate or classmate. Nick’s loyalty was unquestionable.
Nick was also an exceptional ice hockey goaltender, steady and reliable, and earned First Team All-NESCAC Honors as a senior. He embraced being a goaltender as part of his identity. Yet far from being the stereotypically aloof goalie, Nick loved his teammates and reveled in being part of the team.
Following college, Nick was recruited by several minor league professional hockey teams—a rare feat for even the best Division III athletes—and played briefly in the East Coast Hockey League. He then moved on to a career in the financial industry, starting out at FBR Capital Markets and Lehman Brothers. He joined the Financial Institutions Group at Barclays from 2007 to 2015. Most recently, Nick served as a managing director at the Hovde Group, a financial advisory group.
Nick is survived by his wife, Ilene, and his twin daughters, Hannah and Lily.
Darren Reaume ’02 and men’s hockey teammates