A Life of Giving

We Celebrate Our Memories of Tad Lawrence

Formally, he was John Tharp Lawrence III. In life, “Tad” was anything but formal. At Greater Cincinnati Foundation we salute his well-lived life as we mourn his passing this month and extend our heartfelt condolences to his cherished family and numerous friends. He knew everyone, it seemed, and everyone knew him.

A man of deep faith, Tad was also quick-witted and an adventurous thrill seeker. From helicopter skiing to sky diving, that’s pretty much how he tackled everything in his path. Positive and upbeat, his answer to “How are you doing?” was, without fail, “Better and better all the time.”

He was a man of many talents as well. Professionally, Tad was Senior Vice President and Senior Institutional Consultant at UBS Financial Services, but that was far from the only bullet point on his resume. A true champion for our community, his selfless commitment to others was reflected in the numerous boards and committees on which he served, including GCF’s governing board from 1993 to 2001. He also served as a Trustee to the Thomas J. Emery Memorial, which GCF serves proudly, as did his father, John T. Lawrence Jr., with whom he shared a love of quail hunting and other pursuits.

Personally, he was also a prodigious piano player: “If there was a piano in the room, he pulled up a bench and played,” noted Ellen M. Katz, GCF President and CEO. From the Taft Museum of Art to GCF holiday parties, scores of us have applauded his artistry at the keyboard.

With gratitude for Tad’s unwavering example of giving, we carry forward his energy, passion and commitment to build upon his legacy of love and action.