From Deadman's Trail

Richard "Abe" Abramson

Richard "Abe" AbramsonLooking back to our days at the Academy, we associate Abe with his exceptional athletic performance as a swimmer and water polo player. He broke the Air Force record in four different events and was the first cadet to represent the United States in an international competition at the World Maccabi Games in Israel in 1965.


Abe and LorraineLorraine LotzofWhile competing in Israel, Abe met a sprinter from South Africa, Lorraine Lotzof (who won three gold medals in the 100, 200 and 400 meters). Three years later, following graduation, they were married in Johannesburg. After serving as a procurement officer at LG Hanscom Field, MA, he received a meritorious service award. He began his Wall Street career as an associate in Corporate Finance at CBWL-Hayden Stone in 1972. From there he went on to Funds Evaluation Group at AG Becker, Paribus, Inc and then built a firm starting in 1975 from a beginning of $40 million to $1 billion under management called NSR Asset Management.

Since 1979 he has been with Bernstein Global Wealth Management Corp as Senior National Managing Director. The firm started with $60 million under management to over $470 billion today.

Abe and Lorraine continued their love of athletics. In 1973 Lorraine went back to the Maccabi Games and won a silver and a bronze medals as a member of the US team. Abe continued to swim and when he turned 40 he competed in masters competition and came 5th in the Masters World Championships and 7th in the Masters National Championships. In August 2008 Abe swam in a relay across the English Channel (see December 2008 Checkpoints) and in June 2010 swam in a relay around Manhattan Island (see September 2010 Checkpoints).

In his personal life, Abe sits on nine charitable boards. He is Chairman of the Investment Committee for our Association of Graduates, Secretary of the Washington Institute for New East Studies, Co-Chair of the Investment Committee of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, a member of the Investment Committee for The American Friends of Hebrew University and others.

Lorraine recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from UJA-Federation of New York for her services to that humanitarian organization. Lorraine has just published her memoir called: MY RACE: A Jewish Girl Growing Up Under Apartheid in South Africa. There is a chapter about the Air Force Academy during her visit to Cadet Richard Abramson! For more information go to www.lorrainesbook.com
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Click on thumbnail for larger image
GraduationAbe with South African AF
With the South African AF
WeddingAt our 40th Reunion
Lorraine and Abe

Abramson Family
Back: Daughter Jill, Daughter-in-law Lauren, Son Gregg and Abe
Front : GrandDaughter Emma, Lorraine and GrandDaughter Leah


Abe and Lorrraine thank-you for sharing with us.

November 2010

Abe passed away on January 17, 2016

Abe was President of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and they just
did a nice tribute to him at their last meeting. You can find it by going to
https://vimeo.com/161682241 and entering “abramson” in all lower case. It is
very well done, and you will recognize one of the key contributors.


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