Lauren Segal Obituary (1955 - 2023)

Ann Roberts '63 said:

CAPE ELIZABETH - Lauren's spirit left us on September 26, 2023, in her Cape Elizabeth home with her husband was by her side.
She was born on June 30, 1955, in Merced, California. Her father was in the Air Force, so her family moved to Alabama, Nebraska, and ultimately Virginia. She graduated from Herndon High School (1973) and earned a business degree from Guilford College (1977), a school grounded in the Quaker philosophy.
She is survived by Richard Grigos, her husband of 40 years; and her brother, Robert, who lives in Haymarket, Virginia.

In her teen years she was stricken with Juvenile Arthritis which plagued her throughout her life. Beyond the chronic pain and mobility limitations, Lauren endured over 17 surgeries as a result of her condition. Throughout her life she faced health challenges with incredible courage and resilience. Her confidence, leadership, and elegance masked the difficulties she faced. Indeed, many co-workers and friends said that they were not aware of the extent of her health problems.

While Lauren would say that she did not want these health issues to "define her", it had a significant influence on her career choice and personal values. As a teenager she often was in a wheelchair. This made it more difficult to build social connections among her peers. As a result, she had compassion for those who faced physical disability or other challenges in life. For instance, she met a young boy with MS in a wheelchair. When he said that he hoped to be a fireman, she arranged to take and meet local firemen who let him sit in the firetruck and sound the siren.

After college she worked in the private sector for a few years. Then she found her passion working for non-profit human services that build stronger and caring communities. On a plane trip, she had met a United Way professional who was impressed with her and encouraged her to apply for an internship with the organization. That started a stellar career. Over the next forty years she served in the local United Ways in Worcester, Mass., Kalamazoo Mich., Somerset County N.J., and the Twin Cities Minn., each time assuming greater responsibilities. She gained accolades for her focus on building donor relations to reflect their interests, increasing organizational diversity, and creating collaborations with other community organizations. A major accomplishment was the merger between the United Ways of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minn. to form the second largest United Way in the country, raising over $90 million. She assumed the CEO role of this new organization in 2006.

Lauren had an engaging leadership style. She had a warm personality that always showed interest in different points of view. On the management side, she built strong relations with staff, always encouraging and willing to be part of a team.

In 2010, she made a career change. She assumed the presidency of Scholarship America, the national organization for local chapters of Dollars for Scholars and a non-profit business to review scholarships awarded by corporations. She helped build the standards for Chapter membership and enhanced the visibility of the organization. She helped forge a relationship with Katie Couric who donated proceeds from her book. She advocated for the creation of an emergency fund for scholarship recipients to help them stay in school.
As her health deteriorated, in 2016 Lauren retired, moving with her husband to Maine. She joined the Board of the Mitchell Institute, serving on the Executive Committee and Chair of the Scholarship Committee. Besides revising the awards process, the Board approved the creation of a Support Our Scholars fund for emergency needs.

On the personal side, she enjoyed her many cherished friends from across the country. She was known for her stylish clothing, often bought at consignment shops. She had a lifelong love of dogs and volunteered for Retrieve a Golden Retriever of Minnesota that fostered and rehomed over 500 dogs annually. She also served on the Board for Can Do Canines which trained service dogs.

Her husband and she loved to travel, seeking unique points of interest, and enjoying local cuisine. They were part of a gourmet dinner group focused on international food for 20 plus years. She loved to remodel homes, so they were updated and comfortable.
In 2022 Lauren was diagnosed with Arterial Lateral Sclerosis. She was sustained by a devoted group of friends, family, and staff from Hospice of Southern Maine. Her husband, as ever, was her stalwart advocate and caregiver.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony is planned for Sunday, November 5 at 12 p.m. at the Mckernan Hospitality House of the Southern Maine Community College.
In lieu of flowers, Lauren asked that donations be made to the Support Our Scholars emergency fund of the Mitchell Institute, 75 Washington Avenue, Suite 2E, Portland, ME 04101.