Lathrop Mead Gates – 50th Reunion Essay

Lathrop Mead Gates

Date of Death: 6-Jul-2009

College: Pierson

(This memorial from tributes.com was reprinted in the January/February 2010 Class Notes.)

Lathrop M. Gates died July 6 at his home in Kansas City. Lathrop was born on February 1, 1947 in Kansas City, Missouri to Clinton Hayes Gates and Doris Mead Gates. He attended Grandview Elementary School and graduated from Pembroke Country Day in 1965. He was a member of the tennis team at Yale University, where he also honed his croquet skills during his leisure time. He served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1969 to 1973. Following his military service, he attended law school at the University of Missouri and began practicing law at Gage and Tucker, where he worked for over 20 years. After retiring early from law, he avidly pursued his interests in horticulture and travel, which were more often than not interrupted by his dedicated commitment to organizations that were meaningful to him, including Barstow School, St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School, Powell Gardens, and Linda Hall Library. Additionally, he was devoted to serving the community of Prouts Neck, Maine, which he visited often and loved dearly. His sense of humor and quick wit were legendary. He was a railroad enthusiast, accomplished sailor and tennis player, and above all, he was devoted to his family. He is survived by his loving wife Dody Phinny Gates; daughters Sally Gates and Newell Gates Freivogel.

From the Condolence and Memory journal of tributes.com: As a consultant to independent schools, I worked with Lathrop at both St. Paul’s and Barstow. What a dedicated, loyal, and committed leader for education and kids. He will be sorely missed by all who love learning and helping young people.

—Stephen DiCicco, Educational Directions (RI)

I pretty much knew Lathrop my entire life as our parents were close friends and we grew up on adjacent farms at 120th and State Line in Kansas City. Lathrop and I worked together as he gave me the financial printing business in New York of his Kansas City based clients. He was a true gentleman, a loyal and trusting friend. Fortunately, I visited Lathrop several months ago during a trip to Kansas City. He was upbeat and only spoke positively about his trip to Europe to beat his dreaded disease. I admired his courage and willingness to continue to fight. —Sandy McGee

Sensitive, caring, preppy, committed, proud, devoted father and husband, fierce competitor, fighter to the end, humble, giver, smart, witty, calming, charming, loving brother, friend to so many. A great loss to those who knew him and those who should have. I will truly miss him.

—Greg Smith