Robert Lawrence

Honored May 2001

Robert 'Bob' Lawrence

Bob Lawrence has lived his 79 years with a simple philosophy: You cannot just sit and take. "I feel that to live in a community, you need to be a part of it," Lawrence said.

A Santa Fe resident since his retirement 11 years ago, Lawrence has not had much time to sit. He became a professional volunteer after a lifetime devoted to education as a teacher, counselor, administrator and finally the deputy superintendent for public instruction in the state of California.

It may be his work with special education classes at E.J. Martinez School and as a homework helper at Ortiz Middle School that earned him the nomination as a Santa Fe Living Treasure. Or it could be his volunteer work with Hospice and the Charles "Cocoa" Maxwell Junior Memorial Scholarship Fund for track athletes.