J. Michael Cline, co-founder of movie ticket company Fandango and Executive Chairman of Juxtapose, jumped to his death from a hotel in Manhattan on Tuesday in an apparent suicide.
Cline, 64, of Palm Beach, Florida, was found Tuesday morning after NYPD were called to The Kimberly Hotel at 145 East 50th Street in Manhattan just shortly after 10 a.m. where they found Cline with injuries “indicative of a fall from an elevated position,” police said. He was pronounced dead at 10:30. Cline left a suicide note before jumping from the 20th floor, landing in a third-story courtyard, according to law enforcement sources. His death occurred days after gallbladder surgery. The NYPD said in a statement, “Upon arrival, officers found an unconscious and unresponsive male with injuries indicative of a fall from an elevated position. The investigation remains ongoing.”
Cline attended Cornell University and Harvard Business School, and founded Fandango in 2000, before leaving the company in 2011 (which is now owned by NBC Universal). He was former chairman and board member of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and founded the company Acumen, an outsourcer of lab operations for large hospitals, in 2010 and served as chairman and director through 2017. He also founded Accolade, a vendor of health services for large employers and hospital systems, in 2007 and worked as founder and chairman through 2022.He also founded and served as managing partner of Accretive, which funds start up companies. At the time of his death was the executive chairman of Juxtapose, which helped to create the Orchard, Tend, Earned, Great Jones and Nectar companies.
Jennifer Mull Neuhaus, chair of the board of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in a statement: “J. Michael Cline was a true champion for conservation and for wildlife. Michael was an exceptional leader as our chairman over the past three years, and his passing leaves us all deeply saddened. On behalf of the foundation and its board of directors, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to Michael’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. He will truly be missed by all who knew and worked with him, but his legacy in conservation will benefit us all far into the future.”
Cline is survived by his wife Pamela, who were married in 1995, and they share six children.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
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