Who was Jay Wilkins?
Jay Wilkins was the president of Harvest Partners, a private equity firm, who died on Saturday, February 5, 2023, of cardiac arrest. He was 46 years old. He was a successful businessman, a generous philanthropist, a loving husband and father, and a loyal friend to many.
Jay Wilkins was born in Philadelphia on January 26, 1977, to John and Elizabeth Wilkins. He graduated from The Haverford School and earned his BS at Vanderbilt University, where he met his future wife, McCartney Sullivan Kay. They married in Nantucket in 2005 and settled in New York City, where they had their son, John Campbell Wilkins III, also known as Jack.
Jay Wilkins began his career in finance with Donaldson, Lufkin, and Jenrette. He later joined DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and North Castle Partners, where he focused on leveraged buyout transactions. He joined Harvest in 2010 and became the president of the firm in 2021.
Jay Wilkins was also a board member of The Haverford School and The Allen Stevenson School. He was a passionate supporter of his alma mater, Vanderbilt University, and other causes that he cared about. He enjoyed playing golf, poker, billiards, and watching James Bond movies with his family.
How did Jay Wilkins die?
According to Legacy.com[^1^][1], Jay Wilkins died of cardiac arrest on Saturday, February 5, 2023, in New York. He had been in good health and showed no signs of any underlying medical conditions. The exact cause of his death is still unknown and the family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
Jay Wilkins’s death came as a shock to his friends, colleagues, and the entire business community. Many people expressed their grief and condolences on social media and other platforms. Some of his former co-workers and associates shared their memories and tributes of working with him.
Michael Garcia, a friend and colleague of Jay Wilkins, wrote on Facebook: “Jay, don’t worry, my friend. You left us too soon, but you left us better than you found us. You taught us how to live, how to lead, how to love. You were the best of us. Rest in peace, brother.”
Thomas Carlyle, the CEO of Harvest Partners, said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of our president and partner, Jay Wilkins. Jay was an exceptional leader, a brilliant strategist, and a trusted advisor. He was also a wonderful person, a devoted husband and father, and a loyal friend. He will be greatly missed by all of us at Harvest and by everyone who knew him.”
How to honor Jay Wilkins’s legacy?
Jay Wilkins’s funeral will be held on Wednesday, February 9, 2023, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. The service will be open to the public and will start at 11 a.m. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Jay Wilkins Memorial Fund, which will support the causes that Jay Wilkins cared about, such as education, health, and the environment.
Jay Wilkins’s legacy will live on through his family, his friends, his colleagues, and his achievements. He was a remarkable leader and a friend who touched the lives of many people. He will be remembered for his passion, his generosity, his wisdom, and his kindness. He was a man who always asked for more, of himself and others, and always delivered more than expected. He was a man who saw the best in everyone and brought out the best in everyone. He was a man who made a difference in the world.