Lionel Pincus, R.I.P.

Hopefully the antics of Pincus's money grubbing girlfriend won't overshadow his impressive life achievements.

Warburg Pincus and the National Venture Capital Association, which Mr. Pincus helped found, played a central role in negotiating with the Labor Department to revise regulations that had inhibited investments in those asset classes.

As a result, vast amounts of new capital flowed into private equity and venture funds.

Mr. Vogelstein recalled Mr. Pincus as brilliant but also able to delegate. “He was the senior partner, and yet he did not stifle creativity, but encouraged it,” he said. “It meant that investment thinking was quite broadly spread, and we could attract talented people.”