Lawrence Singmaster ’38

Larry is probably best remembered by the class as the all-America fullback and captain of Coach Bill Logan's 1937 championship soccer team. But he also was president of Cloister and an honors graduate in biology en route to an MD from the U. of Pennsylvania. He became a general surgeon in Philadelphia, taught at Penn medical school, and even performed a gall-bladder operation for early television. He was a member of the American College of Surgeons and the Penn Medical Society.

He married Carolyn Gibbs in 1940. They had three children--Lawrence G. '64, Kenneth, and Suzanne, an accomplished equestrienne--who have been the parents of nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Larry had a distinguished war record as a medical corps captain in the Italian campaign. The citation for a well-earned Bronze Star medal specified that "on numerous occasions, completely disregarding his own safety, he ventured out onto the battlefield under heavy fire to administer first aid" to wounded men.

Postwar, he and Carolyn lived an active life. They were members of the Presbyterian Church of Bryn Mawr, and traveled extensively, often in pursuit of his favorite latter-day sports--golf and fishing. At home he was a proficient gardener, cook, and--a lifelong enthusiasm--jazz drummer. He died after a long illness on Apr. 17, 1996.

The Class of 1938