Lucy DeLaurentis Memorial Captivates
In addition to launching an endowed scholarship in the memory of Lucy DeLaurentis ’10 (Potash Hill, Fall 2015), who sadly passed away in January 2015, her family has been committed to the idea of a monument at the college to honor Lucy’s intense relationship with the community. That idea finally came to fruition in September, when more than 100 people assembled on the library hill for the dedication of a magnificent stone memorial structure and plaque honoring Lucy. Many of Lucy’s family from Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New Jersey, and New York City attended, and alumni came from far and wide: John Berry ’07 (Lucy’s RA freshman year) flew out from California, Max Henderson ’09 came up from New Orleans, and Alice Packard ’11 was in from Chicago.
“Many in attendance had also attended the memorial service in Philadelphia after Lucy’s death,” said Michael DeLaurentis, Lucy’s father and a Marlboro College trustee. “Moving, uplifting, sorrowful, and inspiring as that service was, all agreed that the dedication of Lucy’s Place was even more so: somehow, being on the ground Lucy walked and in the air Lucy shared with so many friends made her presence more tangible—and poignant.”
The structure itself was conceived by local dry-stone architect Dan Snow, based on discussions with Lucy’s parents, philosophy professor William Edelglass, American studies professor Kate Ratcliff, and Director of Plant and Operations Dan Cotter. A cascade of enormous steps, the stones demark a square with a corner missing—yet nearby, and with a memorial plaque—to indicate the loss but continuing closeness of Lucy.
“Shelley and I saw it as an L, for ‘Lucy,’” added Michael. “Somehow, that coincidence seems very appropriate and meaningful.”
Several attendees spoke movingly about Lucy and what she meant to the Marlboro community, including President Kevin Quigley, former President Ellen McCulloch-Lovell, Alice Packard, photography professor John Willis, and Re Gorham, former director of the Total Health Center. Perhaps the highlight was a song sung by Tobey LaRoche ’10, written for Lucy shortly after her death, which beautifully captured how her courage, compassion, and irrepressible enthusiasm deeply touched so many lives.
“Tobey’s song added a dimension mere words couldn’t capture,” said Michael who in his own dedication compared Lucy’s life to a song. “Lucy touched far more lives than Shelley or I had any notion of before her death. From what I’ve seen and been told, Lucy’s song continues to echo through this memorial, strong and wide still.”