Lasting Memories

Lawrence Cecil Lamb
Aug. 15, 1927-Feb. 23, 2022
Palo Alto, CA

Cecil Lamb, aged 94, died after a brief illness on February 23, 2022. Cecil grew up on small farm in Ticonderoga, NY. Thanks to the encouragement of his close friend, Ivan Bigalow, Cecil attended the College of Agriculture at Cornell University. He told his family college opened the world to him. Earning both a BS and MS gave him job opportunities he never dreamed of. Cecil made lifelong friends at Alpha Zeta Fraternity and serving in the Army in New York City. While he knew Anne at college, they didn’t date until four years later when Cecil heard she was working near him and dropped by her office. A few months later Cecil and Anne got engaged at a New Year's Eve party given by Ivan and June Bigalow. They married in March of the following year. Cecil worked in Marketing for US Steel in Pittsburgh, PA where Anne and he raised their family. They had the shell of a mid-century modern house built and spent evenings and weekends finishing the interior. In between business trips around the country, Cecil volunteered at church, his local polling place, and for Y Guides.

In 1987, Cecil retired, and Anne and he moved to Palo Alto to be grandparents. They bought and remodeled a house two blocks away from their twin granddaughters. Cecil volunteered at church and in his neighborhood when he wasn’t building furniture, working in his garden, and traveling with family. Three years ago, Anne and he moved to The Avant Senior Community. Cecil enjoyed the concerts, exercise classes, and social events in their new community. He loved taking walks and rides with Anne, as well as sharing dinners with family.

Cecil was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His dry sense of humor, including one-line zingers that made us laugh, will be missed. He was compassionate, loyal, and hardworking. He helped friends pour cement patios, seed lawns, plant trees, remodel kitchens, and paint. Cecil loved sports. In high school, he played basketball and baseball. He had a mean knuckle ball. He attended his daughter’s choir concerts, went to his son’s wrestling matches, his granddaughters’ volleyball and soccer games, and cheered for Stanford, the Steelers, the Niners and the Warriors.

Cecil is survived by his wife of 67 years, Anne; children Judy Noice (David Noice) of Palo Alto, and Bill Lamb (Hillary Lamb) of Fort Collins, CO; grandchildren Katie Quach-Noice (Rachel Quach-Noice) of Mountain View, Megan Noice (William Bakal) of Palo Alto, and Samara and Simon Lamb of Fort Collins; and great-grandchildren Judith and Eloise Bakal Noice of Palo Alto.