Richard E. Lawrence

Richard
E. Lawrence
Richard Eugene Lawrence left a dual legacy when he died suddenly on October 26, 2007 in his home in Boca Raton, Florida. One legacy is in the form of brick and mortar: his numerous architectural and business ventures are testimony to his remarkable abilities, brilliant mind and cutting edge vision. His second legacy is in the form of love: his family was supported and sustained by his generosity and thoughtfulness. Dick was born May 30, 1919, in Canton, Ohio. He graduated from McKinley High School where he was president of the senior class. Four years later, he graduated with a degree in Architectural Engineering from Ohio University in Athens where he also was senior class president and a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Dick was a U.S. Naval Officer and served in the Panama Canal Zone (Pacific side) from 1944-46 at 15th Naval District headquarters. He received officer training at Notre Dame in 1944. After working at Wright Field in Dayton with the U.S. Engineers, he co-founded an architectural firm in Canton with his life-long friend and business partner E. W. (Bill) Dykes. Lawrence, Dykes, Goodenberger and Clancy still exists today although both founding partners are now deceased. His visionary approach to business and architecture led him in 1951 to develop and build one of the first shopping centers in the state of Ohio, the Country Fair Shopping Center. His stellar architectural career included numerous well- known projects designed by Lawrence, Dykes, Goodenberger and Clancy which include The Cultural Center for the Arts, McKinley, Jackson and GlenOak high schools, the Hoover Plant located on I-77, the 55-acre NEOUCOM (medical) Campus in Rootstown, Ohio, Kent State University, Stark Branch Campus, Trinity United Church of Christ and Westbrook Park United Methodist Church, large additions to both Aultman Hospital and Timken-Mercy Medical Center, the Malone College library and barn, the University of Akron main library, Branin Natatorium, Heritage House Apartments and over 200 other civic, educational, commercial and medical projects. He also developed, designed and built the 225 apartment and condominium residences of London Square in 1972-1975 as well as the Hillsdale Shopping Center in 1969. He was elected Man of the Year by the Canton Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1953 and won a Meritorious Service Award in 1966 from the Al Koran Masonic Temple. He won numerous design awards from the American Institute of Architects. His civic service included being a trustee of Aultman Hospital for 30 years, a Director of Harter (now Key) Bank for 23 years, a YMCA trustee for 20 years, serving on the board of Blue Cross for 11 years and the Red Cross for six years. He was a member of Brookside Country Club for 38 years, the American Institute of Architects for 46 years and the Urban Land Institute for 40 years. He was married to Lois Huston Lawrence for 52 years. His beloved wife died in 1993. Their infant son James died in 1947; his parents, Jeannette and Earl Lawrence also preceded him in death. He and Lois were members of Unity Church of Christianity and earlier, Christ Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his daughter Jill Lawrence of Naples, Florida, daughter Janet Mani and son-in-law Dr. John Mani of Charleston, West Virginia. His twin granddaughters Kara Lawrence and Lara Niemoth live in Vernon Hills, Illinois, his grandson Mark Lawrence resides in Naples, Florida, his grandson Jonathan Mani, granddaughter- in-law Erica Mani, great grandson Alexander Mani and granddaughter Lauren Mani live in Charleston, West Virginia. His sister Doris Wilson resides in Venice, Florida. He was passionate about liberty and freedom, a life-long Republican, a voracious reader, an out-of- the-box positive thinker, and refused to engage in negative speculation, gossip or conversation. He believed thoughts were powerful and as a result, always counseled seeing the best in any person or circumstance. Ever the Renaissance man, Dick was an avid golfer, swimmer, tennis player and exercise buff. Regular exercise was an integral part most of his life. He was impressively self-disciplined both fiscally and in the realm of keeping his body strong and healthy. To the end, he retained his mental acuity and was a formidable duplicate bridge player. He won just about any card game in which he engaged - whether it was bridge, gin rummy, poker or euchre. He played bridge the day before his death and his death was discovered when he was late for his regular bridge game. He will be greatly, greatly missed. His remarkable legacy leaves his loved ones with happiness, humorous memories, sagacious advice and love. The family requests that donations be made to Hospice in lieu of flowers.
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