David Retik

Dave Retik, a general partner and founding member of Alta Communications, was one of the few people who was able to successfully strike the perfect balance between work and family life. While Dave enjoyed numerous career successes in his eight years as part of the Alta / BEDCo family, everyone within the Alta family. most remembers Dave for his warm smile, loyal friendship, hard work, relentless practical jokes, and his dedication to the benefits of casual dress within the office.

The true joy of Dave’s life, and that which made him most proud, was his family, which included his wife, Susan, and children, Ben, 4, and Molly, 2. Dave was excitedly awaiting the birth of his third child, as Susan was seven months pregnant at the time of his tragic death on September 11, 2001. Dave was a devoted father who was most happy when playing with children. He had the unique gift of being able to put a smile on any child’s face. According to Susan, if Dave could have had his way, the Retik family would have optimally included ten children. Even with the full time commitments of family and work, Dave still found time to stay in touch with his closest friends, pursue his passion for fly-fishing and participate in numerous recreational sports leagues.

A native of Weston, MA, Dave graduated from Colgate University with a degree in economics and Asian studies. At Colgate, Dave was a member of the varsity soccer team and also studied in China for a semester. Dave subsequently received a Masters in Accounting from New York University and then worked as a consultant for Ernst & Young’s Restructuring and Reorganization Group where he advised financially distressed companies and their creditors. In 1993 Dave was recruited into Burr, Egan, Deleage & Co. and became a member of the media and communications team. With the founding of Alta Communications in 1996, Dave became a general partner and focused on investing in a variety of traditional media and communications industries. Dave’s influence at Alta was felt far beyond the realm of work as he went out of his way to stay involved with work colleagues in more personal settings. Dave never missed a company outing, founded and organized the Alta company basketball team and quietly and generously contributed to a number of philanthropic charities.

Dave was not only an incredible person but he inspired others to become better as well. His loss is not only a loss to everyone at the Alta Family, but also to his friends, the community, and most of all his cherished family.