Laura Chisolm: the light in the room.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 22 March 2012
• Author: Dale, Harvey P.
• Published date: 22 March 2012
• Author: Dale, Harvey P.

I met Laura Chisolm in Cleveland on a sunny day in the mid-1980s. The New York University School of Law had recently begun a "Study on Philanthropy and the Law" that I was directing. (1) The Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations was already in operation at Case Western Reserve University, and I wanted to understand its mission, programs, processes, and organization. Laura was the Law School's representative at the Mandel Center, and she agreed to spend some time with me to discuss these matters.

Laura--not then yet a tenured full Professor--spent several hours with me that day, patiently explaining everything I wanted to know about the Mandel Center. By the time I left to fly back to New York City, I had learned a lot. Some of what I learned involved the Mandel Center, but my strongest impressions were of Laura herself. Even in those first few hours, she impressed me with her intelligence, kindness, patience, good humor, and amazing warmth. It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

Before long, I had (to my good fortune) managed to enlist Laura's support for the "Study" I was undertaking, and then for the "Program" and the "National Center" that followed. (2) Over many years, Laura was an...