In Memoriam: Leanne Shank, Former General Counsel Shank worked for Washington and Lee University for 22 years.

Office of Communications and Public Affairs
December 12, 2025

Leanne Marie Shank of New Hope, Pennsylvania, died on Dec. 7, 2025. She was 69.

Born on May 18, 1956, in Seattle, she was the second of four children born to John Francis Shank and Marilyn McRae Shank. Shank’s father worked for a large pulp and paper company, and the family moved from Seattle to paper mill towns in Camas, Washington, Campbell River, B.C., Ocean Falls, B.C., Lancaster, Ohio, and Carthage, New York, where she graduated from high school.

She received her undergraduate degree from SUNY Oswego, where she swam competitively. After a brief stint as a travel agent, Shank attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received her law degree.

After three years working in corporate law in Washington, D.C., Shank settled in Lexington, Virginia, where she planted her roots and raised her family. She began by working for a private practice, then served as Rockbridge County attorney. In November of 1995, she started working part time for Washington and Lee University as general counsel, beginning full time in April of 2000. She went on to serve as the general counsel for over 22 years, retiring in 2018.

Shank was passionate about giving back and serving her community. She was the past president of the United Way of Rockbridge, the past president and treasurer of the board of directors for Yellow Brick Road Early Childhood Education Center, the past president of Rockbridge Area Health Center and past chair and treasurer of the board of directors of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).

After moving to New Hope, she joined the Law School Admission Council as senior vice president of legal and corporate affairs. During that time, she became a trusted voice on the executive team and guided the organization through significant change with strong leadership, grace and tenacity.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Shank loved nothing more than traveling the world with her family, a passion stoked by a yearning for lifelong learning and a deep interest in art, food, history and diverse cultures. In New Hope, you could often find her walking her beloved Bernedoodles, Sophie and Murphie, enjoying drinks with friends at The Dubliner on the Delaware or relaxing by the river.

Shank was predeceased by her father and mother. She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Don Scott Baker, of New Hope; three children, Marilyn Jordan Wagner (Jan-Samuel) of Yardley, Pennsylvania, Patrick Jordan (Karli) of Cockeysville, Maryland, and Sidney Baker Stearns (Michael) of Lexington, Virginia; and grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, John Shank (Andrea) of McLean, Virginia, Steven Shank (Dawn) of Santa Clarita, California, and Christine Shank of Charlottesville, Virginia, many nieces and nephews and two soon-to-be grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at St. John the Evangelist Church, 44 Bridge St., Lambertville, New Jersey. A celebration of life will be held afterward at The Logan Inn, 10 W. Ferry St., New Hope, Pennsylvania.

Shank’s full obituary was published in the Bucks County Herald.