Donald James Kirk

Throughout his multifaceted life, Don was admired not only for his intellect and judgment but for his quiet humor, deep humility, and enduring devotion to public trust whether in a cockpit, boardroom, classroom or trustee meeting. His love of travel and birding took Don and his beloved wife, Mimi Colgate Kirk, to many far-flung places across the globe.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, to a Scottish immigrant CPA father and a first-generation Latvian mother, Don spent his early education in Shaker Heights schools. He attended two years at Yale before joining the US Naval Aviation Cadet Program, gaining his wings and flying Cougar F9 jets off the aircraft carrier the USS Randolph. After finishing his education at Yale, he joined Price Waterhouse and was named partner in 1967.

In 1973, Don became a charter member of the Financial Accounts Standards Board (FASB). For eight years, he served as chairman, overseeing the development of critical standards in modern accounting regulation and ushering in a new era of transparency.

From 1987 to 1995, Don was a professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Business and later served as an executive-in-residence, mentoring future leaders in the field with the same clarity and integrity that defined his public service.

Don was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and a former member of its governing council. For seventeen years, he served as an independent trustee of the Fidelity Group of Mutual Funds and was a public governor of the National Association of Security Dealers, as well as a governor of the American Stock Exchange. He was also a director of the General Re Corp., the Valuation Research Corp., and the Public Oversight Board, an independent private sector body that monitored reports on the self-regulatory progress of the AICPA.

Some of the many accolades Don received include the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service from the AICPA, the NYU Graduate School of Business Alumni Achievement Award, and an honorary doctorate from Lycoming College. In 1996, he was elected to the Accounting Hall of Fame at Ohio State University.

As a long-time trustee and volunteer of the Greenwich Hospital, including 4 years as chairman, Don led a period of transformational growth culminating in the hospital’s affiliation with Yale New Haven Health System. He was a director and former chairman of the National Arts Stabilization Inc, a spinoff of the Ford Foundation. Past affiliations include a six-term member of the Board of Estimate and Taxation of the Town of Greenwich; a member of the Board of Overseers of the Stern School of Business of NYU, president of the Stanwich Club of Greenwich, CT, and director and officer of the Urban League of Southwestern Fairfield County.

Don is survived by his wife, Mimi; his sons, Alex and Bruce Kirk; his children through marriage, Kacey Elfstrom, Rachel Bullock, Wheaton Mahoney, Elizabeth Mark and John Needham- as well as many beloved grandchildren who brought him great joy.

A private service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Greenwich Hospital in Don’s memory would be much appreciated.