In Memoriam: John H. DeCourcy The former director of Student Financial Aid died March 5.
John DeCourcyJohn H. DeCourcy, former director of student financial aid at W&L, died in Lexington on March 5, 2022.
DeCourcy served as the university’s financial aid director for 27 years, retiring in July 2010. He was instrumental in building many of the funding philosophies and policies foundational to the current W&L financial aid program. His commitment to communication established the department’s reputation for accessibility that families appreciated throughout his years of leadership.
A native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, DeCourcy was director of financial aid for Miami Dade Community College North before joining W&L in 1983. He earned a B.S. in business administration from Georgetown University and an M.A. from the University of New Hampshire, where he met his wife, Mary. Prior to graduate school, DeCourcy served as a lieutenant on the amphibious ship USS Tallahatchie County.
DeCourcy was a casual scholar of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Battle of Waterloo, a collector of toy soldiers and antique marbles, and a fan of the Georgetown Hoyas. In retirement, his devotion to the German shepherd dog breed, long held by both he and his wife, continued. He was often seen walking his shepherds on campus.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Jennifer DeCourcy of Raleigh, NC; his daughter, Delia DeCourcy of Pittsboro, NC; his sister, Kathleen Smeriglio of Wilton, CT; and his grandchildren, Jackson and Alex DeCourcy of Raleigh, NC.
The family will be holding a private service this spring. Memorial donations can be made to the Washington and Lee Class of 1986 Memorial Scholarship, which provides awards to students with financial need. Gifts may be made online at: https://colonnadeconnections.wlu.edu/donate. In the designation box, choose OTHER and in the comments indicate that the gift is in memory of John DeCourcy for the 1986 Memorial Scholarship.
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