JANE LAROCHE


ENTHUSIASTICALLY CHEERING WINTHROP THROUGH THE DECADES


Jane LaRoche ’69, ’70, spent four years as her class cheerleader, and then took on the role of cheering on her alma mater, its faculty, staff and students through the years.


Now 55 years in, Winthrop regards her as one of its most dedicated alumnae. She has served three terms on the Board of Trustees, volun- teered for numerous alumni activities and given significant donations to help Winthrop achieve its mission. The Alumni Association presented her with its top award, the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award, in 2002.


The caring Camden emergency room doctor said that she wants to support the people at Winthrop. “Winthrop is a family,” she emphasized. “It’s a place I love to be with the many friends I’ve made during my college years and the newer friends I’ve grown to know over my years of staying involved. It’s just such a special place.”


Her Commitment Is Unmatched LaRoche visited Rock Hill for three-straight days in early May. She drove back and forth from Cam- den to Rock Hill each day, minimizing her efforts by saying the drive only takes her an hour and 15 minutes each way. During those days, she attend- ed a reception for retiring Foundation Director Robin Embry, the Graduate Commencement ceremony, an “Evening with Shanola Hampton”


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meet and greet, and two Undergraduate Com- mencements.


President Edward Serna ’02 gave her a shout- out at the graduation ceremonies, and said she remains one of his favorite people. “Jane loves Winthrop more than anyone I know,” said Serna. “Her commitment to this place is unmatched.”


Known for her kind demeanor and gracious hugs, LaRoche loves the feeling she gets from gift giving. “Nothing makes me happier than to give people gifts and to see the joy on their faces,” she said.


Faculty members appreciate LaRoche’s many contributions, particularly her establishment of the Jane LaRoche Graduate Faculty Award. “The creation of a faculty award has had a profoundly positive impact not only on me, but also on the graduate faculty,” said Sherry Hoyle, an asso- ciate professor for educational leadership and the 2025 award recipient. “Beyond honoring individual accomplishments, it fosters a shared commitment to academic excellence and inno- vation. It also sends a powerful message about the importance of what we do—not only for us as faculty, but for the students we guide.”


The Best Of What Winthrop Offers LaRoche has many interests but narrowed them


down to support three charities: Winthrop; her church, Grace Episcopal; and the Kershaw County Fine Arts Center. At Winthrop, LaRoche created a musical performing instrumentalist scholarship for an undergraduate, belongs to the Eagle Club, which supports the universi- ty’s student-athletes, and sponsors an annual lunch for Kershaw County alumni at the private Springdale Hall club.


Quick with a compliment, LaRoche does not shy away from speaking her mind or standing firm on an issue, as those who served with her as a trustee well know.


To many, LaRoche represents the best that Winthrop has to offer. “She is the epitome of kindness, honesty and integrity. She demon- strates the highest level of alumni spirit through her presence at campus academic and athletic events, and she is a most generous do- nor,” said Political Science Professor Jennifer Disney, chair of the Department of Political Sci- ence, Philosophy, Religion and Legal Studies.


Why Such Dedication? While she was earning a B.A. degree in Span- ish in 1969 and then her B.S. degree in physi- cal education in 1970, LaRoche said Winthrop brought her out of her shell, turning an intro- vert into someone who was more outgoing.


Her alma mater also provided her the foun- dation to seek her dreams. After completing her medical degree in 1974 from the Medical University of South Carolina, LaRoche worked five years in internal medicine, eight years in geriatric medicine and then 28 years in emer- gency room medicine.


One of five children, LaRoche has a twin sister, Susan Reynolds LaRoche Kearns, who lives in Rock Hill and is an artist. LaRoche learned about the medical field from her father, Ripon Wilson LaRoche, whom she described as a “small-town Camden doctor with an exception- al knack for diagnosing patients’ illnesses.” A


brigadier general and advisor to the surgeon general, he would have advanced further, she said, but the family unfortunately lost him to cancer when LaRoche was only 25.


Looking back on her bond with Winthrop, LaRoche said her commitment has never wavered. She was elected Most Enthusiastic in her senior class and could still hold that title if a vote were taken today.


Always a cheerleader, LaRoche offers the advocacy and support that distinguishes her among her Winthrop peers.


As President Serna quipped, “We need more Janes.”


LaRoche attended the May 8 Graduate Commencement ceremony to see the faculty award named for her given to Hoyle, right. They were joined by Education Graduate Director Lisa Harris.


In this 1970 Tatler picture, LaRoche was


listed among the senior class officers as the class cheerleader.


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