David M. Lascell

I was very saddened to hear of Dave's passing. He was a bundle of energy who always seemed to be in perpetual motion but always had time for everyone. He had much to give and gave it all. I knew him As a wonderful friend in law school and during our early professional years in Rochester. My deepest sympathy goes out to Donna.
Sincerely,
Don Alhart

So saddened by the loss of this wonderful and gentle man. He truly was a gentleman and a beautiful soul. My deepest condolences to Donna, Dan, Carrie, Chris, his lovely grandchildren & the many friends & loved ones. Fezzik too. Please know each of you will remain in my thoughts and prayers now and always.

Dear Lascell family,

I am so sorry to hear your news. I was one of those brand new law clerks David tirelessly mentored at Nixon Hargrave. I had the good fortune to work with him on some of the Corning cases and educational institution cases. Because of his recommendation, I became an in-house attorney at Corning. His support, friendship and mentoring literally changed the path of my life. I am eternally grateful; it was an honor to know him.

Best regards,

Andrea (Kojm) Thomas Ramsey

The veterans on the 7B community living center looked forward to seeing David and Fezzik every month. He was so much fun and down to earth. David would get the biggest kick out of something Fezzik did that it would get everyone laughing. They made a great team!
Our condolences to family, friends and Fezzik.

David was a great guy. When I think of him, I smile - it really doesn't get much better than that. I never saw him angry, or down. He had such a great aura about him, which I'm sure is why he was allowed his beloved dog, of whom he spoke so fondly. Taken too soon, I'm glad I had the chance to know him. Stay happy, David. Condolences to the whole family who lost an amazing spirit.

David Lascell, a founder of United Educators (UE), will be greatly missed by the many staff, members, and associates who regarded him as a friend, mentor, and counselor. His commitment to education and his legal expertise positioned him to provide incomparable counsel on matters involving insurance, intellectual property, and employment matters.
UE would certainly not exist as strong and vibrant a company without his guidance, commitment and strategic thinking.

David was a long term UE director, chair of the board, and founder of SCUUL, the original underwriters for UE. David took on big issues, sweated the details and had a wonderful and ironic sense of humor. We have lost a dear friend and great supporter of higher education.

In 2010, UE honored David with the prestigious Frank J. Bachich Award for his steadfast service and strong leadership. David was UE's moral compass and visionary. His knowledge of the way educational institutions work, coupled with his leadership role on countless boards, has been invaluable to United Educators.
All of at United Educators extend our sincere condolences to David's family, friends, and colleagues.

Donna, I am so sad to learn of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this period of loss.

Donna, I am sorry to hear about your husband. I will be keeping you and your family in my prayers!

I am so sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Lascell family.

Gone in body, but not in sprit. Will always remember the great times we had as team mates on the Albion Football Team. He was a great asset to the team. Best regards to Sandy and deepest condolences to her and family.

I had the honor of making many volunteer visits at the VA with David and Fezzik. I was in awe of his ability to connect with the veterans. He took the time to visit with each as an individual and really listened to the men. He always had a smile to share. He was a wonderful, kind, and gentle man and I will truly miss him.

David was a great lawyer, but also a great friend teacher to me.

Let's start with friendship. David and I have been following each other around for 38 years. David was the head of the trial department at Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle when I came there just out of law school. At that point you could say I followed him around like a puppy, and had the priceless opportunity to learn from him.

Then there was Grove City College. My relationship w/ GCC actually predates David's. I was a 1975 graduate and was the third generation of my family to attend there. David and I did the Grove City College case together, which was one of the finest episodes in David's legal career. David actually also followed me onto the case when he took over for Jack McCrory, as I was then working on drafting the complaint that began the federal court appeal of the litigation. David probably saved my participation on the case when he told a skeptical Grove City President that I had matured since my time at the College, but that he would nonetheless keep an eye on me.

In 1986 I followed David into partnership at Nixon, thanks to his teaching, mentoring, and support. That same year I followed David into a long relationship with a little Bermuda-based education risk retention group that ultimately became United Educators, another one of David's legacies. David was the one that introduced me there and encouraged me to help UE on its earliest claims. I left Nixon in 1991, and David followed my departure two weeks later.

Then there's United Educators again. After six years in government, I was hired there in 1997, with David's recommendation and encouragement, to lead UE's legal operations. I've stayed for 19 years. David followed me back there in 2001 when he came back onto UE's Board and eventually chaired it. Until a few years ago, David worked with me as UE's outside claims counsel extraordinaire, attending our monthly claims meetings and providing us with his sage advice and education expertise.

Outside of work, we followed each other's mutual interest in World War II history, exchanging books and taking in the occasional museum together.

Finally, there's Grove City College again, where I followed David onto the Board of Trustees six years ago, shortly before he became a trustee emeritus. My last contact with him was on a conference call for a Grove City College meeting in February.

I mentioned David's talent as a lawyer and teacher. Sometimes they are one and the same, and one of David's special talents as a lawyer was to take a mass of complex information, understand it, distill it down, and communicate a course of action that was a compelling blend of logic and good sense. To quote something I heard David say many times in many contexts, It just makes all the sense in the world to look at it that way. And even if you didn't see it that way originally, you would come around to David's point. That made David so good in front of judges and juries he had that Jimmy Stewart way about him.

That particular talent characterized his performance arguing the Grove City case in front of the Supreme Court. In 20 minutes David was able to break down the complexities of that Title IX case and present it to nine questioning Justices in a straightforward style that made a lot of sense. He also made them laugh while doing so. You don't have to believe me. Lyle Denniston, the Dean of Supreme Court journalists, wrote in his 1984 Courtly Manners column that David's performance was one of the most effective advocacy performances of the Term. The transcript is also now available online.

I'll miss all of David's estimable qualities, and I'll also miss the friendship displayed over countless lunches, dinners, and conversations where we discussed our latest reading, exchanged news of children and grandchildren, and talked of life. His was one well lived.

Fond memories of David's bright smile and kindnesses.

thinking of you all.

Jean Kelley Nicholson

Thoughts and prayers extended to David's family and friends.

Such sad news. I just want you to know that I am thinking about all of you. My heart aches for your loss.

I served with David on the Board of The Commonfund for many years. He was an incredibly wise and dilligent colleague and a wonderful guy. My deepest condolences to his family.

Dan and I were so sorry to hear of David's death. We send our love to Donna, Dan, Carrie and Chris. Dave was such a good friend and wonderful companion to us and so many others. He lit up the room.
Dan and Karen Gottovi