Mort Swinsky, bond trader, art collector and Broadway producer died Saturday, June 19, of prostate cancer at Lenox Hill Hospital with his two daughters by his side. He was 75.
Born to immigrant parents of Russian Jewish descent, Mort was raised in the Inwood section of Manhattan. While at City College night school, where he met his wife Florence Swinsky (Pincus), he pursued a job with CJ Devine and Co where his limitless memory, brilliant mind and ability to predict value consistently propelled Mort to the top of his field. In l964, Merrill Lynch consolidated operations with CJ Devine to make Merrill Lynch a dealer in Fixed Income Securities. For years, the “Devine Boys” as they were dubbed, created a high percentage of Merrill’s revenue earning them the voice to demand autonomy which they were granted as Merrill Lynch Government Securities Inc. with Mort as Executive Vice President. The Devine Boys continued to search for a home in the specialty market, which they found in 1980 at William E. Pollock & Co. They then became known as the “Udder Guys.” Mort joined Fuji Securities with his colleagues in 1990. He retired from that firm as President.
Mort came to Fire Island decades ago, eventually buying a home in Ocean Beach. Indicative of his love of art and travel, the home, as well as the Ocean Bay Park home, features wondorous carvings and statues from around the world.
Mort’s keen sight for talent also brought him into the world of Broadway, film and figurative arts. His contributions to Broadway have been honored with numerous Tony Awards. He has enriched New York and international theatre through his participation in more than 80 plays and musicals, beginning with Eubie and including everything from pure entertainment (Spamalot) to thought provoking (Spring Awakening and David Mamet’s Race). He has been the recipient of film and television awards (AFI, Emmy) including Boys Don’t Cry and the concert version of Sweeney Todd. Also known as Kardana Swinsky Productions, Mr. Swinsky has co-produced more than 30 Broadway productions including, Guys and Dolls (Tony Award), Chicago ( Tony Award), Annie Get Your Gun (Tony Award), The Who’s Tommy, Grey Gardens, Fela!, Jersey Boys (Tony Award), Hairspray (Tony Award), The History Boys, Billy Elliot (Tony Award) and most recently The Adams Family. Recognized by The National Sculpture Society, Mort was a patron to artists mostly in the Figurative Arts. He can be credited with his support both as a patron and mentor influencing the tenor and direction of many of the artists with whom he became close.
On Fire Island, he will be remembered as a classy man, who generously supported the Ocean Beach Community Center, giving the best theater tickets to the fund every year.
From Manhattan to the beach of Fire Island he loved so much, Mort will be missed by the many people whose lives he’s touched. He is survived by his wife Florence, their two daughters, Karen and Dana, and five grandchildren, Connor and Harry Cantelmo, and Nikola, Dante and Thanos Carouso.
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