Donald R. Laing, Jr. received his A.B. at Washington and Jefferson College in 1953. He received an M.A. in classics and in 1965 a Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati. Following stints at his almae matres, he joined Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Classics, where he taught for more than 40 years, chaired the classics department for 19 years, and remained active even after his retirement in 2003. His interest in history led him to the study of Athenian naval inscriptions and dirt archaeology, which took him to the American School of Classical Studies in Athens in 1957 and as an AIA Olivia James Fellow in 1967–68, after which he represented Case Western Reserve on the Managing Committee. In addition, he directed summer sessions at the School in 1976 and 1987. He worked with Henry S. Robinson and Case Western’s archaeological team at Temple Hill in Corinth. At home he was president of the Cleveland Archaeological Society, which sponsors an annual Donald R. Laing, Jr. Lecture. He left his collection of ancient artifacts to the Ohio State University.
Donald Laing Jr. passed away on April 2, 2009.