Condolence From: Leigh Gilman
Condolence: I am so sorry to hear about Jim. Right out of grad school my first teaching job was at MPH with Jim. He was a great friend and an invaluable mentor. Even though we had lost touch, I will miss knowing that he's around.
Wednesday November 29, 2017
Condolence From: Lauren & Walter Melnikow
Condolence: I also wanted to say how sorry we were to be out-of-town on the date of the Memorial Service. it was difficult to miss that in-person acknowledgement of Jim's life and friendship.
Wednesday November 01, 2017
Condolence From: Lauren Melniow
Condolence: Mr Lawrence was a true teacher in the classic sense...a gentleman and a scholar. He was also a good friend. He dined at our home a few times, having taught Latin to our son, Paul, and daughter, Lilli. He was a caring advisor to our son, Paul- always lending an understanding ear. He and I also shared time, getting together to play piano duets at our home.
Jim and I met a few times long after our children had graduated, and he continued to ask about their lives into adulthood.
He was a special man, a great friend when I taught at MPH, and I will cherish the memories.
Wednesday November 01, 2017
Condolence From: Kristen Mezzalingua
Condolence: Mr Lawrence was a kind and patient teacher. He taught me Latin while I was at MPH and although it wasn't my favorite subject, it was always my favorite class. He was one of a kind.
Tuesday October 17, 2017
Condolence From: Donna Loftus Swiniuch, MPH '75
Condolence: The loss of a man who influenced so much of my adult thinking and attitudes is unbearable. Patient while he struggled to teach me French and Latin, he was also the de-facto etiquette guru in the seventies. From Mr. Lawrence and his stories I learned much more than academics, and he encouraged my love of classical music, intruments and my soprano voice. He was a master of all he taught and studied, and Mr. Lawrence was always studying.
Mr. Lawrence was a lifelong learner, and he always had something more to give, to teach, to share...a virtue he passed on to many of students.
Merci, mon brilliant mentor je n'ai jamais oublie votre sagasse.
Armis requiem Deo magister.
Thursday October 12, 2017
Condolence From: KJ Kabza
Condolence: Mr. Lawrence was one of the greatest teachers I've ever had. He helped build the foundation upon which my love of the English language rests, and he did so with patience, gentleness, and kindness, to both passionate students and the less motivated alike. I only saw him twice after I graduated--once at his retirement party, and again at a clambake 4 years ago--and I'm grateful that upon both occasions, I was able to express what all those years of Latin with him meant to me. I can't see him again, but I can always look back.
with fondest regards,
--the 1999 recipient of the Latin Award
Thursday October 12, 2017
Condolence From: Thomas (Tadd) Helmer
Condolence: Mr. Lawrence was one of the teachers that had the ability to change your life. I was not a great student and he always took the time to help me. He not only taught me Latin, when you were not paying attention he would sneak in life lessons. Some of those lessons have served me well. He will be missed, Rest in peace Mr. Lawrence.
Thursday October 12, 2017
Condolence From: Matt Fredman
Condolence: Mr. Lawrence was a formative figure in my teenage years and central to my experience at Manlius Pebble Hill. He was the kind of teacher you remember not because he was easy but because he was hard - he had high expectations that were conveyed with an empathetic confidence we could live up to them. I know I always tried to.
He will be missed.
Thursday October 12, 2017
Condolence From: Julie Blaha
Condolence: Jim, I am so happy for the last time I saw you and so sad you are gone. Even though I haven’t seen you for so long, I think about you often and the fun we had when we were all so young. You’ll always be in my heart.
Wednesday October 11, 2017
Condolence From: Erich Groat
Condolence: My condolences to family and friends. Mr. Lawrence taught me Latin, Greek, and French over the course of five years at MPH, providing an now all-too-rare form of education I was very lucky to receive, spurring me on to a degree in linguistics and being of great value in my current study of theology and philosophy. His civility was matched only by his wit, and his broad education was a wonder to be steeped in, though few of us knew it at the time. His taste in music was very sophisticated, and he was always at the piano when we needed a good sight reader, too! A very important person in my life indeed.
Sunday October 08, 2017
