Lorenzo A. Wallace – 50th Reunion Essay

Lorenzo A. Wallace

PO Box 92093

Atlanta, GA 30314

lorenzowallace@hotmail.com

404-434-9265

Education: Harvard Business School, MBA 1974

Career: Banker, Homebuilder, Accountant

Avocations: Theatre, Languages, Tennis, Piano, Rap music

College: Calhoun (Hopper)

Fifty years after Yale I have returned to my first job. I started at Price Waterhouse as an accountant in June of 1969. From there I worked for four banks and four homebuilding companies, was a computer programmer, taught English in Japan at the age of 55, spent an indeterminate amount of time not working, then returned 12 years ago to accounting to work for Gas South in accounting, finance, and treasury. Full circle.

The non-working time was spent playing tennis, taking up the piano, acting in local productions in English and in Spanish, and studying Japanese and other languages. I taught myself computer programming. Turns out I love learning new stuff on my own. I also spent too much time in bars and clubs, which I thoroughly enjoyed during those decades (yes, plural), subscribing to the maxim that “Weekends are for amateurs, the real party people go out during the week!” (I was one of those Yalies who did midweek road trips.)

I spent a great deal of time as Benjamin Button, living my life in reverse, with lots of retirement-type activities in my early years, and working, saving, and investing in these latter years.

Coming from segregated Atlanta where I experienced no racism, Yale was my first contact with whites and there, also, I experienced none. Returning to Atlanta eight years after graduation from Yale, and remaining here, has opened my eyes to disparities and attitudes that I never knew existed. I simply do not understand hate or why anyone or any institution would feel threatened should others share in the same.

Having buried my father this year at 98 and having just thrown a 99th birthday party for my mother, one of my co-workers said “We’re going to be stuck with your crusty old ass a long time!” No retirement date has been set and I truly enjoy the social aspects of working with the myriad age groups.

Although I have been interviewing applicants for the Yale Alumni Schools Committee for about 10 years, I see my major shortcoming as not giving back in general, given that I have been so fortunate. Unfortunately, I just am not wired that way. I accepted long ago that I was an underachiever, a show-horse versus a work-horse, and unwilling to set goals, let alone try to meet them. Others may refer to me as eccentric, but it sure looks normal to me!

For some years now I have been spending Christmases in Salvador, Brazil. I love it and look forward to spending entire winters there in the future. Atlanta is too cold.

Still holding out hope for love….