In Memoriam: Lawrence (Ladd) Willis, 79
Led Internal Consulting at Chase Manhattan
Lawrence (Ladd) Willis, who led internal consulting at Chase Manhattan Bank for a period, died on March 21, 2024, in Southampton, NY.
According to the Southampton Press, Willis was born in New York, raised in Florida, lived most of his life in NYC and, since 1990, made his home in Southampton and on his favorite home at sea, his 73’ sloop, campai.
Willis earned a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and an MS in Computer Systems/Operations Research from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
After RPI he joined United Technologies, where he was Senior Project Manager of Advanced Systems and led teams of scientists and engineers in the development and testing of new protected technologies, involving the lunar landing space suit and underwater breathing apparatus.
After receiving his MBA in Finance (with distinction) from Columbia University, he settled in NYC to lead internal consulting at Chase Manhattan Bank, before joining Coopers & Lybrand as partner and National Chairman of the Financial Services Consulting Practice. In 1990, he was recruited to First Manhattan Consulting Group as Executive Managing Partner advising international financial services clients on a range of corporate business, product and technology strategies.
As soon as Willis retired from consulting in 1999, he joined the Board of Directors of Southampton Hospital as Treasurer. He was instrumental in and passionate about revitalizing the hospital’s finances and in implementing the merger with Stony Brook Medicine, helping to ensure the future of community healthcare on the East End.
He owned and operated two marinas on the North Fork until he sold the properties in 2022. Willis was an adventurer who sailed campai on two transatlantic crossings with his crew and family and over a dozen deliveries between Sag Harbor and the Caribbean. He was a competitive and avid athlete his entire life: a water-skier, alpine skier and triathlete; played tennis, squash and blackjack, and drove classic cars. He loved animals, especially his Newfoundland dogs, each of whom became fixtures in the Village of Southampton where he walked them every day.
Among his survivors are his wife, Cindy, and daughter.
Memorial donations should be made to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.