Lawrence Otis Graham, Best Selling Author of Our Kind of People, dies at 58
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Lawrence Otis Graham
Chappaqua - Lawrence Otis Graham of Chappaqua, New York, respected attorney, author, media commentator, board member and lifelong advocate for diversity, died on Friday, February 19, 2021. Born on December 25, 1961, he was the son of Richard C. Graham and Betty J. Graham. Lawrence graduated from White Plains High School, Princeton University and Harvard Law School. He married corporate executive Pamela A. Thomas on February 15, 1992, and worked until his death as an attorney at the White Plains law firm Cuddy & Feder.
A New York Times bestselling author of fourteen non-fiction books about politics, education, race and class in America, Graham's work includes the book Our Kind of People: Inside America's Black Upper Class, a New York Times and national bestseller. Fox Entertainment is currently developing a television series based on this book.
Graham's other books include The Senator and The Socialite: The Story of America's First Black Political Dynasty. However, he may be best known for his essay collection Member of the Club, which included the New York Magazine cover story recounting his work undercover as a black busboy at the Greenwich Country Club in the early 1990's.
Graham served as a board member of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine; the American Theatre Wing; the Eaglebrook School; and the Horace Mann School. He served as a frequent political commentator on News 12 Westchester, representing the Democratic Party point of view.
He was chairman of the Westchester County Police Board and had previously served on the boards of the Red Cross of Westchester, the Princeton Center for Leadership Training, the Jack & Jill Foundation, and the Westchester Holocaust Commission.
Lawrence was an active member of the men's organization Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, also known as The Boulé. His family were members of the Links and Jack & Jill of America.
Lawrence is survived by his wife Pamela Thomas-Graham, and their children Gordon, Harrison and Lindsey. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Richard Graham; a number of cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews; dear friends and colleagues; and his beloved godmother Dr. Mirian Hinds.
A public viewing will be held on Friday, February 26 from 12 noon to 5:00P at Lee's Funeral Home, 160 Fisher Ave, White Plains. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent "In Memory of Lawrence Otis Graham" to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), Contribution Receipt Center, PO Box 98097, Washington, DC 20090, or online at go.si.edu/honor-memory.
I don't know. I'm looking around the Oak Bluffs FB group to see if anyone has any details which is how I found out. So far, no one seems to know although it looks like a personal friend is the one that informed the group. They may know something.
DrBanneker
Space is the Place
Wow, RIP that is young. I wonder if he had been sick for a while or if it was a sudden thing? Take care of your health people. We can't take the $ with us.
get these nets
Veteran
Wow. REST IN PEACE.
Secure Da Bag
Veteran
Damn! Dude went deep into white society and exposed some secrets.
RIP
RIP
Damn RIP.
YEA I WAS JUST ABOUT TO ASK
WAS THIS THE GUY UMAR
WAS TALKING TO....
ALL THAT BOULE BUTT LICKING
AND DIDNT MAKE IT TO 60.
HOW DID HE DIE THO?
