For decades, Art Cashin, UBS's director of floor operations at the New York Stock Exchange, wrote a New Year's poem to reflect on the year's events. Following Cashin's death earlier this month, his sons Arthur and Peter shared this tribute to their father:
Comments from some other Cashins: A Tribute Presentation
December 30, 2024
by Arthur Cashin III and Peter Cashin
In 2024
Wall Street stopped in fear.
No more annual poems
without Arthur here?
My brother and I
said, “Let’s try.”
but with one requirement,
there would be no AI!
genetics or environment,
we share the same vice.
So we joined our weak minds,
while marinating some ice cream.
Paris hosted the Olympic Games
and decided to start
by having the opening
float down the Seine.
A container ship left
the Francis Scott key.
The world wondered whether Putin
did the same with Navalny.
The ruler of Syria,
al-Assad is gone now,
but in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip,
The wars still go on.
“Around most of the world,
The incumbents lost their re-election.
Here in the USA,
45 is now 47.
Things continued on Wall Street
his historic bull run.
And with the help of Wegovy,
The world has lost a ton.
Taylor Swift can go home.
Epochs came to an end.
But only on the field
did Travis' knee bend?
Boeing's labor dispute
the 737 paused.
They also left behind two astronauts
between here and heaven.
Some financial giants are
no longer with us.
We lost Jim Simons and
Bernie Marcus from HD.
We lost the deep bass
Hollywood was counting on it.
The voice of Mufasa
and Vader is gone.
The choir of angels
has become much better
now that Cissy and Whitney
sing together.
Arlo Guthrie's old muse,
She has a new location.
Alice Brock is in heaven,
in a new restaurant.
Toby Keith and Kristofferson
climbed this heavenly staircase.
Now I'm 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 stage next.
A remake of “Tootsie”
doesn't seem to be far.
Dabney Coleman was added
by the amazing Teri Garr.
Whitey Herzog submitted
his final All-Star squad.
With Rose, Mays and Cepeda;
not a single fraudster.
Lou Carnesecca is now a coach
a team that is the best,
with players like Mutombo
and Walton and West.
Zagallo and Beckenbauer,
both world championship glory,
will return to the likes of Pele
for a quick learning game.
Remember this exclamation
would you really like to hear?
We no longer have a voice
who said: “You have mail!”
A poet laureate has left us,
as they would eventually do.
We can't ignore it
the great Charles Osgood.
And we would be remiss
not to share why we are sad.
This exercise brought back memories
our dear old father.
To others he was Arthur,
Mr. Cashin or Chief.
But he was our father
and we share our grief now.
You knew him as
he wanted to be:
historian, philanthropist,
Soul of the NYSE.
If he went for a drink with you,
You should have been flattered
and talk about markets or politics,
or things that really matter.
From comments to speeches,
Writing was his art.
But was he just as funny?
as the late Bob Newhart?
A Xavier alum,
a true Jesuit scholar.
From his alma mater,
There was no one prouder.
Wouldn't that be Ray Charles?
or voters in Jersey,
you would never have seen him
on CNBC.
The way this year ends
and you look at '25,
We give two tips
to help you survive.
Appreciate those who are still here.
Remember those you miss.
From the cashins to you,
All the best is our wish.
Begorrah, menorah,
Lanza and Kwanzaa,
May your new year be fulfilled
with true Abbondanza!
And when the ice melted
in each of our glasses,
We knew if Dad had read it
He would kick both of our asses.
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 mark the end of the year at 1:45 p.m. ET.