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his past June, Lycoming
College joined with the First
Community Foundation
Partnership of Pennsylvania
and the Lycoming County
United Way to honor the
generous spirit of their greatest collective
champion. On the first anniversary of his passing
— and, coincidentally, what would have been
his 83rd birthday — friends and former protégés
joined leaders of the organizations to which he had
dedicated, in the words of Trustee Don Failor ’68, “his
time, talent and treasure.”
Robert Shangraw ’58, H’04 was one of Lycoming
College’s all-time most ardent and energetic advocates.
He worked tirelessly to advance the College, and was a
generous benefactor as well. Shangraw was possessed of
many remarkable qualities, though no list of adjectives could
paint a full picture of the man, or of the influence he had on
Lycoming College and the community where he lived and
worked.
In his remarks, President Kent Trachte referenced the
American spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism that French
writer Alexis de Tocqueville famously observed in his mid-19th
century writings: “I’m pretty sure that de Tocqueville did not
meet Bob Shangraw in 1831, but Bob certainly epitomized this
quintessential American spirt of volunteerism and philanthropy that
de Tocqueville discerned. He understood as did de Tocqueville, that
this habit of forming associations to solve problems and create public
goods is one foundation of a healthy, vibrant community. He was a man
that devoted his time, energy and resources to the public good and it is
that spirit of Bob that we honor today.”
Born in Jersey Shore, Pa., Shangraw was the youngest of four children
in a family of modest means. He loved sports growing up and excelled at
football especially, and played on the 1949 Jersey Shore High School team
that was its last to go undefeated.
Shangraw lived in Williamsport for most of his adult life. After attending
Lycoming College, he began his professional career with Bell Telephone of
Pennsylvania, and in 1961 joined Merrill Lynch, eventually rising to the rank of
First Vice President of Investments, a post he held until his retirement in 2001.
Shangraw was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by Lycoming College
in 2004.
In 1985, Shangraw was invited to join the board of trustees of Lycoming College,
where he began three decades of service to the school, and was appointed chair in 1989.
He was the first person from Williamsport in seven decades to serve as chair of the
board, and he remained chair until 2005, later serving as a chair emeritus.
Robert
Shangraw
T
LYCOMING
COLLEGE’S
ALL-TIME MOST
ARDENT
AND ENERGETIC
ADVOCATE
by
Chris
Quirk
22
LYCOMING COLLEGE 2016 SUMMER MAGAZINE
F E AT U R E