As you pass by our Peter Lawrence Gymkhana, have you ever stopped to wonder about the person behind the name?
Peter Lawrence was one of six children in the Lawrence family, who relocated from New York City to Woodland Street in Englewood during the 1950s.
According to Starling Lawrence ’52 and Susannah Woods ’58, their brother Peter Lawrence ’54 was a sociable child who thrived at EMS, forging numerous friendships. His passion for ornithology (the study of birds) blossomed during his time here, as he spent hours drawing and observing birds from the school windows, honing his knowledge of their calls and behaviors. This fascination continued at Philips Exeter, where he pursued his studies after graduating from EMS and became adept in taxidermy, preserving birds with skill.
Tragically, Peter’s promising life was cut short after a fatal car crash on July 7, 1966, at the age of 21, while serving in Naval Intelligence during training in Bremerhaven, Germany.
The gymkhana was built in 1966–1968, and funded through the Three School Development Foundation (a collaboration between EMS, Dwight School, and Englewood School for Boys) to implement needed facility upgrades at each school. On June 7, 1968, the gymkhana was dedicated in Peter’s name.
Today, the Peter Lawrence Gymkhana is used daily for Morrow House physical education classes and large schoolwide events, including concerts and eighth-grade graduation. It is also used for Parents Association–organized events, such as the International Food Festival and Book Fair & Storytelling Festival.
Memories of EMS
Peter Lawrence’s family members still hold fond memories of The Elisabeth Morrow School, and staff member Miranda Lee recently had the opportunity to speak with them and record a few.
Starling Lawrence ’52, who later became editor-in-chief and vice chairman of W.W. Norton & Company, began his EMS journey with Miss Tucker, his second-grade teacher who aptly described him as “obstreperous,” sparking his fascination with words and leading to proficiency in using the dictionary. In third and fourth grade, Ms. Cella instilled in him an interest in European life and travel, which he later incorporated into his novels. Ms. Chilton, the formidable head of the school, left a lasting impression with her authoritative yet kind demeanor. Starling’s enduring friendship with Robert Gambee ’52, whom he met in kindergarten and later collaborated with as a book publisher, is a testament to the lasting bonds formed at EMS.
“EMS was a wonderful school to nurture my love of words and enabled me to successfully develop my skills as a writer in my later years. I have good memories of it still, and I am delighted that Peter is honored there in the gymkhana,” says Starling.
Susannah Woods ’58 vividly remembers feeling envious when her brother Peter began school before her kindergarten years commenced. The school left a lasting impression on her as an environment that nurtured curiosity and a passion for learning in every student. Susannah graduated from EMS with a love of history and reading which has never left her.
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