Dental Scholarship Honors Life of Alumni Lawrence Cotman

University of Detroit Mercy alumnus Lawrence Cotman D.D.S. '51 enjoyed life but he enjoyed it most by making life a little easier for those around him. He operated his dental practice for more than 41 years in Detroit, and throughout that time, provided free treatment to many, including life-long free care to the nuns at St. Thomas parish and to the families of the Naval Reserves. Cotman passed away October 26, 2005, but his legacy giving continues.

"My uncle dedicated his whole life to helping people who were committed to helping themselves," says Cotman's niece, Diane Cotman. "He was an extremely committed instructor at U of D Dental School, insisting on perfection from his students' work."

His close-knit, immigrant family and experience in the U.S. Navy, where he was a captain in the Naval Reserves, developed Cotman's strong moral values and high standards for success. He excelled at dentistry and earned awards, honors and achievements for accomplishments in every field he endeavored.

Friends describe Cotman as a giver, for he often donated gifts of money—many times anonymously—to friends, colleagues and quality organizations such as the YMCA and The Unity Church. Cotman's generosity to University of Detroit Mercy has been outstanding.

Diane Cotman says her uncle wanted others to help hard-working people who needed an opportunity for it was hard work, coupled with opportunity, which allowed him to achieve success in life. Dedication to this belief served as motivation for a dental scholarship funded through a bequest in Cotman's name at Detroit Mercy's School of Dentistry.

"He said that we were here to make the world better. We have to bring everybody up, not just ourselves," says Cotman. "He wanted everybody to succeed."

Cotman hopes that recipients of the Lawrence Cotman Scholarship possess the same noble qualities as her uncle. "He was an amazing man," she adds. "I am most proud that my uncle lived the life he professed he lived and he did it with his time and monetary contributions."