Brett David Hellerman, 57, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, June 25, surrounded by family, friends and his beloved dog, Scout.

Born on June 20, 1960, in New York City, to Monica Carmona Mermelstein Hellerman and Don Vincent Hellerman, M.D., Brett grew up in Manhattan, attending Dwight School and St. Hilda’s and St. Hugh’s School before going on to Middlesex School in Concord, Mass. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a B.A. with honors in 1981. He was an active member of Penn’s Mask and Wig Club (the nation’s oldest collegiate all-male comedy troupe).

Brett’s career path began as a legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate, developing economic and infrastructure policy alongside Senator Charles H. Percy of Illinois. He went on to work in the fixed income sector at CSFB and Morgan Stanley, was instrumental in building Greenwich Capital Markets’ effort in mortgage securitization and, in 1991, cofounded the Clinton Group, Inc., one of the first hedge fund management firms.

After moving to Norfolk in 1997, Brett founded the Norfolk Management Group (NMG), an investment bank and asset management firm. During his time with NMG, he and Jonathan Rotolo envisioned and created Wood Creek Capital Management, an asset management company based in New Haven, Conn.

Brett married Ann Coleen Shields in 1997, and they lived together in Norfolk and New Haven, where they raised twin daughters, Klee and Julianna, now 17 years old.

A member of Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden, Conn., the New Haven Lawn Club, the Quinnipiac Club, the Norfolk Country Club and the University Club in New York, Brett also served on the boards of the Jane Coffin Childs Fund, Validus Pharmaceuticals, Edenbridge Pharmaceuticals and Concord Bicycle Music.

Brett was preceded in death by his father, Don. Along with his wife and daughters, Brett is survived by his mother, Monica; his stepfather, Milan Potmesil; his stepmother, Susan Hellerman; his brother, John; and an aunt, three cousins, several nieces and nephews and extensive in-laws.

Brett was known for his larger-than-life personality, love of animals, joie de vivre, irreverence, bawdy laughter, sharp intellect and creativity.

A graveside service was held on Wednesday, June 28, at Center Cemetery in Norfolk, and a memorial service was held on Sunday, July 16, at Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Connecticut Food Bank, Attn: Cheryl Thompson, Philanthropy Officer, 2 Research Parkway, Wallingford, Conn., 06492.