Richard Henry Lake Jr. ’45

Hank Lake died in Houston, Tex., after a long bout with cancer, on Feb. 11, 1995, unfortunately slightly more than three months before the 50th reunion of his class. He had submitted an entry to the class 50th yearbook and thus gave us the benefits of his thoughts about Princeton and his career and family.

Hank was a native of Memphis, Tenn. He entered Princeton from the Webb School and became a member of Dial Lodge. After getting his degree in 1947, he earned a law degree from Vanderbilt in 1950 and practiced law in Memphis for many years before moving to his final residence in Houston.

Hank served as Annual Giving chairman for his class and as a regional vice-chair. He spent his career in solo practice and had the opportunity to wind down for his final years, which were occupied with walking, gardening and bridge, as well as devotion to his family.

As he noted, he was blessed with marriage to a most wonderful Mississippi lady, the former Fredrica Lanford, who survives him along with daughters Fredrica Fester and Shirley Rouse '83. In addition, Hank is survived by a sister, Laura Saunders, and by one grandchild. The class expresses its deep sympathy to Fredrica and the family.

The Class of 1945