For decades, Art Cashin, UBS’ director of floor operations at the New York Stock Exchange, wrote a New Year’s poem to reflect on the year’s events. When Cashin passed away earlier this month, his sons, Arthur and Peter, sent this tribute to their father:
Some comments from other cashins: a tribute presentation
December 30, 2024
by Arthur Cashin III and Peter Cashin
By 2024,
Wall Street shut down in fear.
No more annual poems
without Arthur here?
My brother and I
said, “Let’s try this,”
but with one condition,
there would be no AI!
Genetics or environment,
we share the same vice.
So we joined our weak minds,
while marinating some ice.
Paris hosted the Olympic Games
and chose to begin,
through the opening
floating on the Seine.
A container ship left
the Francis Scott key.
The world wondered if Putin
did the same with Navalny.
The ruler of Syria,
al-Assad is now gone,
but in Ukraine and Gaza,
the wars still continue.
‘Around most of the world,
incumbents lost re-election.
Here in the US,
45 is now 47.
Wall Street continued
are historic bull runs.
And with the help of Wegovy,
the world lost a ton.
Taylor Swift can go home.
Eras came to an end.
But only on the field
bent Travis’ knee.
Boeing’s labor dispute
the 737 stopped.
They also left behind two astronauts
between here and heaven.
Some financial giants do
no longer among us.
We lost Jim Simons and
Bernie Marcus from HD.
We’ve lost the deep bass
Hollywood was counting on it.
Mufasa’s voice
and Father is gone.
The angel choir
got a lot better
now that Cissy and Whitney
sing together.
Arlo Guthrie’s old muse,
she has a new venue.
Alice Brock is in heaven,
at a new restaurant.
Toby Keith and Kristofferson
climbed that heavenly stairway.
Now jamming with Buffett,
It must be 5 o’clock there.
Phil Donahue is up there,
book new guests.
I wonder if Dr. Ruth
will be on his podium next.
A remake of “Tootsie”
doesn’t seem far.
Dabney Coleman was accompanied
by the great Teri Garr.
Whitey Herzog submitted
his final all-star selection.
With Rose, Mays and Cepeda;
not a single cheater.
Lou Carnesecca is now coaching
a team that is the best,
with players like Mutombo
and Walton and West.
Zagallo and Beckenbauer,
both of World Cup fame,
will once again join greats like Pele
for a quick pick-up game.
Remember that sound bite
you would hear without a doubt?
We no longer have the voice
who said, “You’ve got mail!”
An acclaimed poet has left us,
as they would eventually do.
We can’t overlook it
the great Charles Osgood.
And we would be negligent
not to share why we are sad.
This exercise brought back memories
from our dear old father.
To others he was Arthur,
Mr. Cashin or Chief.
But he was our father
and we now share our sorrow.
You knew him as
he wanted to be:
Historian, philanthropist,
soul of the NYSE.
If he came to drink with you,
you should have been flattered
and talk about markets or politics,
or things that really matter.
From commentary to speeches,
writing was his art.
But was he that funny?
like the late Bob Newhart?
A Xavier alum,
a true Jesuit scholar.
From his alma mater,
there was no one prouder.
If it weren’t for Ray Charles
or voters in Jersey,
you would never have seen him
on CNBC.
So now this year ends
and you look at ’25,
we offer two tips
to help you survive.
Cherish those who are still here.
Think of those you miss.
From the cashins to yours,
the very best is our wish.
Begorra, menorah,
Lanza and Kwanzaa,
May your New Year be filled
with real abbondanza!
And while the ice melted
in each of our glasses,
we knew if dad read this
he would beat us both up.
Rest in peace, Dad.
Art Cashin also traditionally led the annual singing of “Wait ’till the Sun Shines, Nellie” with current and former NYSE members on New Year’s Eve. On Tuesday, the sons will lead the singing and ring the bell to end the year at 1:45 PM ET.