Dana Laird ’88

The class lost one of its most loyal members when Dana died in a bicycle accident on July 2, 2002, in Cambridge, Mass.

Dana grew up in Dallas, where she was valedictorian at Highland Park HS. A religion major at Princeton, Dana was a member of Tower Club and active in the Glee Club.

After graduation, Dana taught English in Japan and worked as an admissions officer at Princeton. In 1994 she received her master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts U. At the time of her death, Dana was pursuing her PhD at Fletcher.

Dana's life, however, was about more than just achievements. She loved music, travel, and all kinds of physical activity. Proud to be "small and mighty," Dana was an accomplished marathon runner, kayaker, skier, and cyclist. Blessed with an adventurous spirit, a keen mind, and a compassionate heart, Dana constantly challenged herself — and those around her — physically, intellectually, and spiritually.

Dana is survived by her husband, Kenji Nakano; her parents, Sydney and Penn Laird '62; her brother, Penn '91; and her sister, Kelly Phillips. Memorial contributions can be made to the Dana Laird Memorial Fund at the Fletcher School.

The Class of 1988