Lamberson

John R. Lamberson, 79, former president of New York Stock Exchange-listed insurance broker Corroon & Black, founder of its construction practice and a 40-year industry insurance and surety veteran, died on Sept. 12 in Palo Alto, Calif.

The cause was complications of cancer, says the National Academy of Construction, into which he was inducted in 2004.

Lamberson left the firm in 1992, after its acquisition two years earlier by U.K.-based Willis, Faber & Dumas PLC. According to previous ENR coverage, the departure resulted in bitter litigation between Lamberson and the successor firm, Willis Corroon, that was eventually settled (ENR 8/16/93, p. 16).

Lamberson then formed a new firm with another former Willis Corroon executive.

Most recently, Lamberson was a San Francisco-based insurance consultant. He also was a board member of several contractors and held leadership roles in industry groups, including the Associated General Contractors, the Construction Financial Management Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Lamberson was also active in two groups of industry professionals—the Beavers and the Moles—and he was honored by the former in 1990.