The Lammot “Chip” Copeland Spirit Award

This morning, I received the below email (in bold) from Tyler Green, Deputy General Counsel, North America, who was Chip's boss at Willis Towers Watson. Chip worked in the legal department for the company from early November 2016, just a few weeks before he was diagnosed with Stage III, inoperable pancreatic cancer, and right up until Friday, May 29 (He finished up his work week less than 36 hours before he died). Chip liked the work he did for WTW very much and he really liked the team of people with whom he worked as well as all the people with whom he interacted at Willis Towers Watson. To be sure, Chip is smiling down from above regarding the honor of have an annual Spirit Award named after him.

As for me, I was deeply touched by this recognition of Chip's spirit (which was truly one of a kind and amazing!). Knowing that Chip's memory will be honored yearly and that his name will be invoked annually at Willis Towers Watson was one of the absolute best Christmas presents I could have received in this year of his loss.

Hi Cindi,

Last week we held an internal end of year awards ceremony within the Office of General Counsel. At the suggestion of Merve Williams, we created a new award in memory of Chip called the Lammot “Chip” Copeland Spirit Award, in memory of his courage, energy and determination. Chip was the first one honored with this award in his name, and going forward it will be awarded to someone in our global legal department who demonstrates his “positive attitude, courage, energy, determination, initiative, and teamwork.” Chip had a big impact on his colleagues at Willis Towers Watson and everyone was very pleased to hear that he will be remembered each year through this award. Here are some excerpts from the remarks given:

As many of you are aware, earlier this year we lost a dear friend and colleague, Lammot Copeland, who succumbed to cancer after a long, courageous battle. At the inspired suggestion of Merve Williams, we felt it fitting to create an award in Lammot’s honor: the Lammot “Chip” Copeland Spirit Award. Spirit is defined as “the quality of courage, energy and determination.” This year, the Award goes posthumously to its namesake, Lammot Copeland. Going forward, we will award it to a colleague who demonstrates Lammot’s “positive attitude, courage, energy, determination, initiative, and teamwork.” Tyler Green worked most closely with Lammot so I’ll turn it over to Tyler for some words about Lammot and how he embodies the Spirit of the award in his name. – Andy Wasserman, General Counsel North America

Thank you, Andy. Lammot, or “Chip” as his friends and family called him, defined courage, energy and determination through his battle with cancer not once but twice. After beating completely unrelated cancer just a few years prior, Chip was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about four years ago. Despite the overwhelming odds with this type of cancer, he battled it as if there was no way he was going to lose. We often discussed his treatment and the different paths he was pursuing – while some might see having to change treatments from time to time as setbacks, Chip viewed it as an opportunity to try something new that might finally work for him. During the length of his fight he continued to take on more and more work and often volunteered to take more contracts or help out colleagues when they needed it. Working was a way of feeling normal for Lammot and he kept at it right until the end. To not continue to work and carry a full load was to start to give in.

In addition to his fighting spirit, he was a great colleague and friend and I had many long conversations with him about our shared love of improvisational/jam bands. We attended an Umphrey’s McGee concert together and he was just as great to hang out with outside the office as he was as a colleague. He and his wife had a shared love of the band The Revivalists, and I would be remiss if I did not recommend on Lammot’s behalf that you go see The Revivalists if you ever get the chance. He also played guitar and was in a band in Northern Virginia, playing right up until the end. A few of us from the Arlington office attended his memorial service and it was evident how loved he was as a friend to many and a devoted father. Lammot was an adventurer and his children shared stories of many outdoor adventures with him including mountain climbing. Lammot summited the peaks of the tallest mountains on 4 continents (Antarctica, South America, Africa and Europe).

I am very happy we have decided to name an award after Lammot, particularly one that will be awarded for positive attitude, courage, energy, determination, dedication, initiative, teamwork, and client service. Lammot demonstrated all of those qualities every day and it is great that he is the first recipient of this award. – Tyler

I wanted to share this with you and please share with others in his family if you like. Chip is very much missed at work as I am sure he is at home, and we wanted to let you know that we will be thinking of him at this time every year as we reflect on the past year. Happy New Year to you and all of Chip’s family.

Sincerely,

Tyler

Everlasting be his memory.