Owen James Cheevers' Obituary
Owen James Cheevers died peacefully at home in Lewes, DE on March 30, 2026. He was 75 years of age.
He was born in New York City on May 25, 1950 to Dr. Owen James Cheevers and Mary Geary Cheevers.
He was raised in Yonkers, attended Halstead High school, and later graduated from the University of Denver. He went on to pursue degrees in higher education: a BSBA (Economics) at the University of Denver in 1973, an MBA (International Finance) at George Washington University in 1974, an Accounting Certificate from Wharton School of Business in 1975, and a Post Graduate Degree (Computer Systems Designs) at the Stern School of Business at New York University.
Owen’s entire career was devoted to finance, both institutional and boutique firms. He began as an Investment Manager for Private Placements at Equitable Life Assurance Society in New York from 1975 - 1979. In 1979-1982, he worked at Asarco, Inc., an international metal and mining company, as a Vice President and Forecasting Manager. From 1984-1987, he worked at First Boston Corporation, an investment banking company, as a founding manager of the High Yield Bond Department. At First Boston, he acted as a Desk Analyst, Research Analyst, and trained new hires. He also developed the first High Yield Bond Indexes and annual handbooks for investors. In 1987, he was recruited by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith as a Senior Managing Director until 1990, when he was tapped by the First National Bank of Chicago to develop their High Yield Department until 1994. After returning to the East Coast in 1997, Owen worked at BMO Nestbitt Burns Inc. ( a subsidiary of the Bank of Montreal) as a Managing Director in research before working at several boutique firms, including Greenwich High Yield Securities, Wexford Management, and Source Capital. From 2003, Owen worked at Norwalk and Housatonic Community Colleges as a very popular Adjunct Professor of Finance, teaching Finance, Money and Banking, Investments, and Principles of Banking. During the course of his career, Owen garnered the following NASD Licenses: Series 7, 63, 24, 86, and 87. Owen was also a Member of American Mensa, Ltd.
An obituary can never capture the full essence of a person. Owen was honest, patient, honorable, charitable, forgiving, and generous. He was a natural teacher, a gentleman, and known for his business ethics (NYT 6/6/2002 article by Gretchen Morgenson).
Owen’s hobbies included: chess, bicycling, reading mystery and spy novels, playing pool and golf, especially with his brother, Tom, and skiing with his brother, Jim, and his children. In Lewes, he played golf with the Nine and Dine Group in Baywood, along with friends. Owen was an active recruiter for his many pool leagues, most recently, the New Rehoboth team. He also loved travelling to the Caribbean, Mexico, and abroad.
Owen married his wife, Alicia Lorraine Jones, on September 2, 1978, and they moved full time to Lewes, DE in 2015. Survivors include his sister, Theresa Jablonski, and brother-in-law Joseph Jablonski; his nephews, Daniel C Kolb, Owen Wittekindt; brothers: Owen, James, AJ, and Christopher Cheevers; T.J. and Patrick Cheevers; Brian and Joseph Jablonski, and his nieces, Suzanne Kolb, Kate Wittekindt Wade, Lisa Cheevers Struble, and Carlyn Jablonski Healy.
Owen was predeceased by his daughter, Mary Rebecca Gabrielle. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sisters Ann Cheevers Kolb and Mary Wittekindt; his brothers James Cheevers and Thomas Cheevers; and cousin Dr. Margaret Anderson.
Relatives and friends are invited to gather on Saturday, May 16, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 200 2nd St, Lewes DE at 11 am for a Memorial Service with a reception to follow in the Church parish hall.
In place of flowers, donations in memory of Owen may be made to any of the following three churches:
St Peters 200 2nd St, Lewes, DE
Friendship Baptist 500 W 4th St. Lewes, DE
St George AME 317 Park Ave Lewes, DE.
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