Donald Cameron Findlay III

Donald Cameron Findlay III passed away on Friday, July 11, 2025, in Chicago, IL, at the age of 65 with his wife Amy Scalera Findlay by his side. Cam was a beloved friend and role model to many, his jokes lit up the room, and his judgment and honesty enriched his friends, companies, and country.

Cam was born on September 7, 1959, to Judy Lilly Findlay and Donald Cameron Findlay II who raised him in Elkhart, Indiana, along with his siblings David Findlay and Anne Findlay McGowan. Cam was known for his academic drive at Elkhart Memorial High School, from which he graduated in 1978, his swimming records, and his theatrical and magic performances around town. He continued throughout his life to amuse his friends and colleagues, who remember how his green eyes would light up when he teased or quipped.

Cam graduated first in his class at Northwestern University in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He excelled in his studies but also made time to serve as SAE's fraternity president, attend its seminal Boxer Rebellion party, and cheer on his fellow students as they "laked the post" after the football team set the longest losing streak in Division 1 football history. Cam continued to love and serve his alma mater for the remainder of his life, serving on Northwestern's Board of Trustees for more than 25 years, regularly attending home football games, and sporting royal purple nearly every day.

Cam went on to receive a master's degree in political science, philosophy, and economics at New College, Oxford as a Marshall Scholar. In order that others could have the same opportunity that he did, Cam created the Findlay Fellowship to sponsor Northwestern students studying in the United Kingdom. After graduating, he and his classmate booked an unlimited one-way airline ticket and took their "Around the World Trip". They hiked Mt. Fuji in shorts and sandals, visited the pyramids in Egypt, and subsisted on rationed mushrooms in the Soviet Union. This trip ignited Cam's lifelong love for travel; during his life, Cam visited roughly 60 countries, including trips to Southeast Asia and Israel in recent months. He then attended Harvard Law School where he met Amy, his match in intellect and wit and his lifelong partner in everything.

Cam began his career as a law clerk to Judge Stephen F. Williams on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and then to Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court. He went on to work at the Department of Transportation and later at the White House as Deputy Assistant to President George H.W. Bush and Counselor to the Chief of Staff. After becoming a partner at law firm Sidley & Austin, Cam returned to public service as the Deputy Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush. Cam rounded out his extraordinary career as General Counsel for three Fortune 250 companies - Aon, Medtronic, and Archer Daniels Midland. Known for his ability to fix complex legal and organizational problems, the Harvard Law Bulletin recently titled Cam "The Fixer". While in the private sector, Cam remained a politico, a patriot, and an avid observer and debater of world events. Cam was very involved with philanthropic activities in the community. He earned awards from Legal Justice Works and the Legal Aid Society for his pro bono legal work and served on the boards of Steppenwolf Theater Company, the Children's Home and Aid Society. the Economic Club of Chicago, and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Cam credited much of his success to mentors like Samuel Skinner and Patrick Ryan and the opportunities they gave him, and he was sure to help others in the same way. As one of Cam's friends recently remarked, "He wanted to drag the rest of us up with him." Cam's leadership ethos was "hiring good people, trusting them, and avoiding looking over their shoulder." He was known to navigate each new job and challenge with kindness, ease, and a cheeriness that defied the difficult problems he faced. No matter his successes, he maintained a sincere Midwestern humility. Above all, he was known and trusted to always do the right and honest thing.

Cam died from heart failure caused by the radiation therapy he underwent as a 20-year-old. At the time, Hodgkin Lymphoma was considered a death sentence, but with the tireless help of his dad and a novel therapy, he survived. Surviving cancer made Cam live every day to the fullest, and he often remarked that the 45 years he lived after beating cancer were "gravy". Cam left us too early - but with little unfinished business.

Cam is survived by his wife Amy, sons Alex and Mac (Rachel), brother David, sister Anne (John), mother Judy, and an endless number of loving family members and friends.

Friends and family will be gathering for a celebration of life in the coming weeks in Chicago. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Findlay Fellowship or the Wounded Warrior Project. To donate to the Findlay Fellowship, please go to give.northwestern.edu, click "Make a Gift", under "Designation" click "Make your selection", scroll to the bottom and select "Other, please specify", and type "Findlay Fellowship" into the text box. You may also mail a check to Northwestern University, 1201 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201.