tributes | by Courtney Fowler, Director of Communications & Marketing
Richard Randall Rollins, Sr. (1931-2020)
John Calvin “Jack” Portman III ’66 (1948-2020)
Randall Rollins was known for his longtime generosity to many Atlanta- and Georgia-based organizations, and educational institutions in particular, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees at Lovett (1973-1979), Emory University and Berry College, as well as the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center Fund. Rollins, who spent most of his career with Rollins family companies, is survived by his wife of 67 years, Peggy Hastings Rollins. The Lovett community has benefitted from the Rollins’ significant investment in the school going back decades, notably support for faculty/staff and the academic resource center. Several generations of the family are Riverbank alumni, including children Rita Rollins, Richard Rollins ’73, Pamela Rollins ’75, Tim Rollins ’81 and Amy Rollins Kriesler ’88. Grandchildren who have graduated or currently attend Lovett are Rick Rollins ’98, Wilson Rollins ’04, John Henry Rollins ’08, Sam Rollins ’17, Ansley Kriesler ’19, Madison Kreisler ’19 and Ian Kriesler ’25.
Jack Portman, a visionary architect and businessman on a global scale, was a member of a family whose history with Lovett goes back more than 50 years. Portman began his education at Lovett, followed by a B.S. in Architecture at Georgia Tech and an M.A. in the same subject at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, remaining involved with both university alma maters as he pursued a storied career with the Portman Companies. The Portman Family Middle School was named in the family’s honor in 2009 in appreciation for a $10 million unrestricted gift—the largest in Lovett’s history--from Jan and the late John Portman, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents of many Lovett graduates and current students. Jack Portman’s Riverbank connections include siblings Michael W. Portman ’65, Jeffrey L. Portman ’77, Jana Portman Simmons ’78, and Jarel P. Portman ’80; children Alissa Portman Beard ’96 and John C. Portman IV ’97; and grandchildren Holden Beard ’28, Amelia Beard ’32, Calvin Portman ’29 and Everett Portman ’31.
the lovett school magazine / Fall
issue 2020
