Lighthouse Partner Scott Dies

Edgerton Scott II, a longtime investor and lender who helped to build Lighthouse Capital Partners, often talked about his beachside home at Point Arena, Calif., and how it was near a hidden cove where huge waves broke.

Edgie, as he was known, was a onetime surfer and a collegiate athlete, having played tennis at the University of California at Berkeley, where he received an AB degree in economics. And he had planned on getting back on a board some day to ride the waves once more, recalls Rick Stubblefield, founder and managing partner of the venture debt lender Lighthouse.

“Edgie was such an amazing athlete,” Stubblefield says.

During the firm’s bocce ball tournaments, for example, Stubblefield says that Scott was the best player from the firm.

“And he was the most competitive,” Stubblefield says. “But he was also the nicest guy around and everyone wanted to play with him. And even though he was getting up there in age, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see him surf again.”

Scott died Feb 22. from complications associated with a heart attack. He was 60.

A veteran of the venture lending and venture capital industries, Scott had worked his entire professional life in finance, logging some 25 years of working with emerging growth companies.

Scott was managing director in the Menlo Park, Calif., office of Lighthouse, which he joined in 1999. Before that, he had founded Imperial Bank’s emerging growth division. Under his leadership, the group grew to seven offices nationwide with more than $1.5 billion in assets.

Prior to Imperial, from 1984 to 1990, Scott – who earned an MBA from USC – was president and founder of BNP Venture Capital, the U.S.-based arm of Banque Nationale de Paris.

Stubblefield says he first met Scott in 1994 when he and Gwill York founded Lighthouse. Five years later, when they decided to expand the firm’s partner ranks, Stubblefield says, “It was Edgie whom we sought because of his experience, business judgment, character, integrity and spirit.”

Scott came on board at Lighthouse and became a father figure to the firm. He was always happy and he always extended a friendly greeting to whomever he came across in the office, Stubblefield recalls.

“Plus, at the Christmas parties, he was always the happiest guy there and he always would get the fun started,” Stubblefield says.

Stubblefield says Scott displayed a sound judgment and thoughtful approach to investing that translated to success for both him and the firms with which he worked. He also credits Scott for being instrumental in helping the firm grow from six to over 30 employees.

Scott joined Lighthouse at the close of the firm’s third fund, LCP III, a $109 million vehicle. Scott went on to serve as a partner in the $230 million LCP IV and the current fund, the $366 million LCP V.

During his tenure with the firm, Scott led investments in Vendio Services, InGenuity Systems, Good Technology, Vivace Networks, and Pharmix Corp., among others.

“We’ll fondly remember Edgie for the contributions he made to each of us as a friend and as a partner,” Stubblefield says. “He will be deeply missed.”

Scott is survived by his wife Sandy, four children, one grandchild and another grandchild due later this year. A memorial service was held last week. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made out to Friends of Coast Community Library Renovation Fund, PO Box 808, Point Arena, Calif. 95468.