Donald K. Laing. (Photograph courtesy of Rotary Club of Haverhill.)
Former Family Bank President Donald K. Laing, 92, of West Newbury, died Sunday, May 29, at Holy Family Hospital.
Laing worked his way up from teller at the former Haverhill Savings Bank to president, retiring in 1988. The bank has since become TD Bank and still has a branch at the original downtown headquarters at 153 Merrimack St.
“He made quite an impact on the community through the dedication and commitment—time, effort and resources, to the city,” funeral director David Shaw told WHAV. Shaw worked with Laing in branch administration at Family Bank before joining his father at Dole, Childs and Shaw Funeral Home. “Through their business associations, raising money, Don, like so many, filled the void,” Shaw said.
Laing served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He later joined the U.S. Navy Reserves and then the U.S. Air Force Reserves, from which he retired as a major. He received numerous honors over the years including the Bnai ‘Brith award and Man of the Year from the Boy Scouts of America. He was a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Haverhill, serving as president during 1982 and 1983, and was named as a Paul Harris Fellow of the club.
Laing was predeceased by his wife Constance “Connie” (Holt) and son Gregory H. “Greg” Laing, long-time curator of special collections at Haverhill Public Library. He is survived by survived by his sons Geoffrey C. Laing, of Plaistow, N.H., and G. Scott Laing and his wife Karen, of Newton, N.H.; and daughter Nancy E. Laing of Plaistow, N.H.
Funeral services are private and under the direction of Dole, Childs and Shaw Funeral home, 148 Main St. There will be no calling hours. Burial will take place in Linwood Cemetery. Donations in his memory may be made to the Haverhill Boys and Girls Club, 55 Emerson St., or to the Laing Family Find at Haverhill Public Library, 99 Main St., Haverhill.