Joseph D. Lawrence ’54

1936-2020

Every June Joe Lawrence drove from his beautiful hometown of Ypsilanti, Michigan, to Deerfield Reunions. Dining staff made sure to serve Caesar salad, which they knew was his favorite. Advancement staff reserved his favorite dorm room. In recent years, security officers unobtrusively appeared at various Reunion events to offer him rides around campus. Joe was a warm, caring, witty, and thoughtful person and one of Deerfield’s greatest champions. He once remarked, “If you’re not inspired by what Deerfield is doing, you might want to think about coming back more often!”

Joe had a multifaceted career as an educator, an attorney, and a businessperson. He derived great satisfaction from buying and restoring historic Ypsilanti buildings and renting to residential and commercial tenants who appreciated those properties’ quirky charms. He formed lasting friendships with some of his renters.

Years ago, Joe informed Deerfield that the Academy was in his will. In 2017 he also funded a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) that returned 5% to him annually. When Joe died in March 2020, he left many sad friends in the Deerfield community. School officials were astonished and humbled to discover that the Academy was the primary beneficiary of Joe’s will and that the combination of his CRUT proceeds and bequest would be one of Deerfield’s largest estate gifts ever.

Joe’s generosity has created the Joseph D. Lawrence ’54 Fund within the Academy’s endowment. The fund fulfills his wish to provide perpetual support for Deerfield’s historic buildings and landscape “in order to maintain the unique character of the campus as a legacy for future generations.”

Classmates and friends can be proud to know that Joe’s bequest is doing exactly what he hoped—maintaining the beautiful campus that spoke to him in such a magical and meaningful way. His memory shines brightly for his many friends. His generosity will live on in perpetuity at Deerfield.