Dennis J. Enright, founding principal of NW Financial Group and NW Capital Markets, has died, the New Jersey-based firm announced Thursday. He was 76.

Enright’s career spanned a half-century, and he was a pioneer in many now-common financing strategies. 

“He was a premier banker, always innovating and searching for client solutions that would save money,” said Stephen Pearlman, a partner at Pearlman & Miranda.

Enright began his career in the public sector, according to subcommittee on energy, natural resources and infrastructure about the Chicago Skyway P3. 

In recent years, Enright had been focusing on water and sewer utility clients, Eismeier said. His duties will likely be spread across the NW Financial staff. 

“Dennis was definitely one of the smartest people I’ve ever known and worked with,” Eismeier said. “He was one of the larger-than-life personalities. He was kind of one of the original investment bankers in our world.”

Pearlman stressed that Enright created a “family-oriented” environment at his firm.

“Sometimes, when you deal with bankers and financial advisors, they tend to be big corporate structures that, just by their size, lose track of the individuals who work there. That was never the case with Dennis,” Pearlman said. Dennis always had a shop that not only had the highest level of expertise in the work, but also cared about his people. That was very important to him.”

Enright is survived by his wife, Pat, his children, Jeff and Kelly, and his grandson, Nicholas. 

A wake will be held on Monday, Oct. 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, 706 Grand Central Ave., Lavallette, New Jersey.