Jimmy Cayne, who led Bear Stearns through its rise and fall, has died

James “Jimmy” Cayne, the swaggering bridge-champion Wall Street CEO who led investment bank Bear Stearns during its rise and an ultimate fall that would serve as a touchstone for the financial crisis of 2008, has died at age 87.

Cayne died Tuesday days after suffering a stroke, according to a report in Bloomberg.

One of the financial world’s most colorful figures and once among the richest people in the U.S., Cayne rose from broker to president and then CEO at Bear Stearns, which he helped shape as a major player in the financial and deal-making world. All the while, he was a world-class bridge player and sponsor whose teams won multiple North American championships.

Ultimately, his legacy…