Funeral of Gayle Rivkin: The widow of disgraced stockbroker Rene Rivkin is buried while the couple’s only daughter delivers a moving eulogy

EXCLUSIVE

The widow of disgraced stockbroker Rene Rivkin was seen off at a private funeral in Sydney on Monday afternoon.

Gayle Rivkin died suddenly in her early 70s on August 25 – 18 years after her husband took his own life.

Sad friends and family gathered at Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park in Matraville for a final goodbye.

Hundreds of prominent mourners, including former Senator Graham Richardson, crowded into the south chapel, many bearing a single tangerine rose.

A longtime friend and collaborator of the late Rene Rivkin, Richardson owned a $26 million interest in Offset Alpine – a printing company that burned down in 1993 amid suspicions that it had been intentionally set on fire.

Tears flowed as Tara, Gayle and Rene’s only daughter, read a farewell speech to her mother and described her recent grief as “overwhelming”.

“Every second of every day your absence feels like a searing pain going through me,” she began.

Gayle Rivkin died suddenly on August 25 in her early 70s – 18 years after her husband took his own life

There was a warm exchange in front of the chapel

“I don’t know how to accept this new reality we live in and how to live the rest of my life without you.”

She spoke of an idyllic childhood and close relationships with her four older brothers, Damien, Jordan and twins Dion and Shannon.

“I don’t know of any immediate family and that’s totally sorted out by mum and dad — what a wonderful legacy to leave behind,” she said.

Jordan Rivkin also paid a touching tribute to his mother and reflected on her ongoing battle with depression.

“Perhaps the most insidious aspect of my mother’s depression was her loneliness, she was lonely in the company of others.”

“It has to be said that my mother was not alone, you only have to look around and my siblings and I are incredibly touched,” he said.

Former Senator Graham Richardson was among the mourners at Gayle Rivkin’s funeral

Hundreds of mourners gathered in the South Chapel at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park in Matraville in Sydney

Beryl Sundin, Gayle’s friend of over 50 years, delivered a heartfelt eulogy and said she will always remember her kind, loyal and loving friend with a smile on her face.

“We will miss them so much and now we have to find a way to move on,” she said.

The service was led by family friend filmmaker Peter Scarf, who entertained the mourners with stories from the Rivkin household.

“Gayle and Rene spent much of their lives together and formed a close-knit and truly inseparable family unit – I’ve never seen a bond quite like the one Gayle created.”

“She loved her children very much. She loved Rene very much, she was totally devoted to them all.’ said Mr. Scarf.

“The conversations were endlessly entertaining – it was Rene and Gayle – that was it and it was a fulfilling, colorful and joyful life.”

The funeral took place a few meters from the graves of Rene and his brother Leonard.

“I don’t know of any immediate family and that’s completely sorted out by Mom and Dad – what a wonderful legacy to leave behind,” Tara Rivkin said in a touching tribute to her mother

“You have to say that my mother was not alone, you only have to look around and my siblings and I are incredibly touched,” said Jordon Rivkin in a heartfelt eulogy

Mourners listened to the Bette Midler song “Wind Beneath My Wings” during the photo slideshow to celebrate the exuberant woman’s love of dancing.

Gayle stood by her husband in his high-profile crash and is survived by five children, two of whom followed their father into the family business.

Eldest son Damien confirmed his mother’s death to Daily Mail Australia on August 25.

“We are devastated by the loss of our mother, Gayle Rivkin,” he said. “She was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother.

“The family is asking for privacy at this time and will not be making any further statements.”

Gayle stood by her husband in his high-profile crash and is survived by five children, two of whom followed their father into the family business.

Rene was the youngest ever member of the Sydney Stock Exchange and was named Stockbroker of the Year in 1985 by Business Review Weekly magazine.

He rose to national fame beyond the financial circle after creating The Rivkin Report, a newsletter with stock tips and other investment advice, and was often photographed chewing on a cigar.

Rivkin was a household name in the 1990s, appearing regularly in the media and associating with political and business leaders before his spectacular downfall.

Fame didn’t bring out the best in Rivkin, whose public lifestyle appeared to revolve around fancy cars, fast boats and a circle of followers including many handsome young men and models.

“Some of his friendships in the ’90s were completely different from his friendships in the ’80s,” Gayle Rivkin once said. “He’s discovered a lot of playmates.”

Rivkin was first embroiled in a major controversy after a printing company called Offset Alpine, of which Rivkin was CEO and major investor, was destroyed by fire in 1993, resulting in a $53 million insurance payout.

In April 2003, Rivkin was found guilty of insider trading by buying Qantas stock based on market-sensitive information the airline had struck deals with Impulse Airlines.

Rivkin was sentenced to nine months in prison, but collapsed in his cell after just one day. He underwent brain surgery and continued his sentence in 2004.

After his first suicide attempt, Rivkin moved from the family’s home in Point Piper to his mother’s home in Darling Point, where he committed suicide in May 2005.

Around 300 mourners attended the 60-year-old’s funeral, including former Labor Senator Graham Richardson, radio star Alan Jones, fashion designer Peter Morrissey and convicted drug dealer Simon Main.

Son Dion, who is now commercial director at Rivkin Report, told mourners at the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium: “I’m not sad for him because he’s finally found peace.”

Shannon Rivkin is Chair and Chief Investment Officer at Rivkin Private Wealth, Damien and Jordan are clinical psychologists and Sister Tara is an English teacher.

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