Donald Arthur Laidlaw

Donald A. Laidlaw passed away peacefully on Monday December 4, surrounded by his wife of 62 years, Joyce Harper Laidlaw, and his children. He was born on September 21, 1930 in Ogdensburg, New York to Marjorie and Arthur Laidlaw. He was predeceased by his sisters Marian LeFevre and Jean McCorkle. He grew up in New York before graduating from Kingston High School and St. Lawrence University. After joining IBM in 1952, Don joined the Army and served at Fort McPherson. During that time he met the love of his life, Joyce Harper, from Tallahassee, Florida. Don married Joyce on April 2, 1955 and they raised three children, Laurie, Don and Meg. After his discharge from the Army, he went on to have a successful 40 year career with IBM where he held several senior positions including Corporate Director of Executive Resources and the Director of Personnel for the Data Processing Division. In July, 1991 he was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve as the Deputy Secretary of Education under U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander. He later became the Vice President for Human Resources for Gulfstream Aerospace. After retiring in 1998, Don and his wife remained active in the Bluffton community. He served as the Chairman of the Coastal Empire’s United Way Campaign, held leadership positions in the Republican Party of Beaufort County, served on the Board of Memorial Health, was a 50 year member of the Rotary Club of Savannah and an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head Island. Don had an exceptional singing voice and led and directed his church choir, participated in community theatre and sang tenor in Barbershop Quartet. He loved spending time at “The River”, his cottage in the Thousand Islands, fishing and boating, and playing golf and paddle tennis with friends in Chappaqua, New York. Don was a man of wisdom, integrity, humor, service and most importantly of strong Christian faith. He loved the Armed Forces and was deeply moved by their dedication and commitment. He was truly a genuine person and was well loved by everyone he met. He had a charming and wonderfully engaging personality and was a model husband, father and mentor to his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his cherished wife, Joyce; daughter Laurie Deacon and husband Jim of Gates Mills, Ohio; son Don Laidlaw, Jr. and wife Suzanne of Dallas, Texas; daughter Meg Nebens and husband John of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren Alex and Scott Roulston, Stewart Roulston, Trey and Thomas Laidlaw, Paige and Peyton Nebens, Caitlin and Jonathan Roman; and great grandson, Finley; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Robert and Alicia Harper; nephews Robbie and Wiley Harper, Doug and Regina McCorkle; nieces Ann and Richard Haller, Marian and Wayne Beckerman; and other beloved family members and friends. The family would also like to thank his “quarterback”, Dr. Robert Brown; Dr. Barry Luskey; the medical staff at the Cleveland Clinic and the MD Anderson Cancer Center; and the Hospice of the Low County. A memorial service celebrating Don’s life will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday December 16th at the First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head Island. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Don and Joyce Laidlaw Scholarship for Graduate Students of Child Welfare established at the Florida State University College of Social Work, University Center, Building C, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2570 or at www.csw.fsu.edu/give