Ivan Keith Tatum

Ivan Keith Tatum entered this world on November 19, 1972 in Dallas, Texas. As the youngest child of Reverend John W. Tatum, Sr. and Marian Washington Tatum, Ivan grew up in a loving home where the values and convictions that would guide him through life were instilled and cultivated.

Ivan attended Skyline Career Development Center in Dallas. While at Skyline, he was a member of the National Honor Society and the varsity football team. He was also a championship weightlifter. Ivan graduated from Skyline in 1991 with high honors. After high school, Ivan attended Princeton University on a full scholarship.

“I spent six years of my life with Ivan Tatum in middle and high school. I could not then, and I cannot now think of one bad thing to say about him. He was the salt of the earth and a class act.” - Vince Earl

During his time at Princeton, Ivan pledged Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. and served as member intake vice president. He was a New Visions tutor; and an active member of several organizations, including Ivy Club, Forbes College, Imhotep Minority Pre-Med Society, OBU, and the NAACP. In 1995 Ivan graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Neuroscience. He later went on to receive his Master of Business Administration in Finance and Strategy from Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business in 2010. Ivan was a lifelong learner who obtained an Accounting Certificate from Mountain View College in 2017 and was admitted to Venture University’s VC/PE Investor Accelerator Program in 2020.

Ivan had a passion for social and economic justice and a heart for service. From 2012 to 2013 he served in a volunteer capacity at Methodism Breadbasket - a food pantry founded by his father - as a board member and financial analyst. His altruism was not limited solely to volunteerism. Ivan lived his life in such a way that he freely gave of himself, his time, and his knowledge to support and edify others.

“What a wonderful, precious gift he was to everyone who knew him.”

- Melanie Sweeney

Ivan was a highly trusted and respected financial advisor. During the course of his career, he reached a number of milestones, including attaining Series 7 – General Securities Representative license, Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law license, and a Certified Python Programmer license. He also became a Chartered Financial Analyst Level I and was a candidate for Level II. Ivan was also actively preparing for the CPA exam.

Ivan served as a finance committee member at North Texas Area Community Health Centers (NTACHC) for over a year. As a direct result of his level of service and his desire to help provide quality health care to Black and Brown communities in Tarrant County, Ivan was voted in as a board member of NTACHC just days before his passing.

“He was a wonderful man and “SMART AS A WHIP”. He loved helping people that needed our help. I wish you could have known him like I did. We voted him at our recent board meeting a couple of days ago and then he was gone. He was a spiritual man and would say, ‘we must give back to those we love and those who cannot access what they need for their family’. He was truly a wonderful man and I am honored to have known him.” – Dr. Di Ann Sanchez

In January 2020, to help his close friend, Syreeta Mitchell, and her business partners, Ivan stepped into the role of chief financial officer at Hannibus, a Texas black-owned agricultural consultancy. Serving in this role fueled his fervor to become a venture capitalist and build financial strategies for start-up businesses, including his own. Ivan and his business partner, Ronald C, Jordan, Jr. established an investment management and business consultation firm named Synetos Equity Partners, LLC with the goal of establishing an industry leading financial tech company.

“Ivan is remembered as an authentic servant leader who worked relentlessly supporting others’ dreams without expecting anything in return. He dedicated his final years investing his capital and building financial strategies for start-up businesses…Although his goal was not fully realized as he imagined, his dream is yet alive today in the seed he planted with businessowners he impacted. This outpouring of his heart and soul into helping others will never be forgotten. Those he loved and supported now have an opportunity to carry on his legacy.” - Syreeta Mitchell

Ivan K. Tatum was preceded in death by his father, Rev. John W. Tatum, Sr. He is survived by his mother, Marian Washington Tatum; sister Jonetta Renée (Bennie) Johnson; and brother John W. (Ursula) Tatum. He shall always be remembered as a loving fiancé, best friend, and anchor by Stacy M. Rosenthal. Ivan also leaves to cherish his memory by three nieces, Marcia Nickerson, Ashley (Benny) Lott, Tiffany Robinson; one nephew, Ivan L. Tatum; three great nephews, one great niece, and host of relatives and friends. He will never be forgotten.

Ivan lived a rich life full of many connections and memories. To spend time in his presence was to experience his passion for equity and excellence, fiscal responsibility, and practical wisdom. It is impossible to capsulize the essence of his being into a few paragraphs on a page. This is just merely the Cliff Notes version of a life well lived.