Laffer Family

This page follows the family of Susan Laffer Updegrove, wife of Craig Updegrove.

Norman Callender Laffer

11/26/1907 - 1/21/1984

Father of Susan

Esther Coker Laffer

3/28/1911 - 8/16/2008

Mother of Susan

Dr. Norman Callender Laffer, 76, a microbiologist who had been a professor and associate dean at the University of Maryland and a past national president of the American Society of Professional Biologists, died of a heart ailment Jan. 21 (1984) at the Washington Hospital Center. He joined the faculty at College Park in 1946 as an associate professor of bacteriology, then served as assistant dean of the college of arts and sciences for 8 years, before returning to teaching in 1972. He retired in 1978 as a professor in the university’s microbiology department.


Dr. Norman Callender Laffer

After that, he was a docent at the National Portrait Gallery. He was a member of University United Methodist Church in College Park and the American Academy of Microbiologists. Dr. Laffer, who lived in College Park, was a native of Meadville, Pa., and was a graduate of Allegheny College. He earned a master’s degree at the University of Maine and his doctorate in microbiology at the University of Illinois. He served in the Army during WW II, attaining the rank of major.

Married 2/20/1943

Rockville Centre, NY

Esther Coker Laffer


Mrs. Esther Laffer was born to the late Charles and Elizabeth Coker on March 28, 1911 in Salem, MA. She went to Keuka College in upper New York and graduated in 1932 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Nutrition. Esther trained to become a hospital dietitian. After two years in Great Barrington, MA she worked as the private dietitian at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut for seven years. Esther later worked at The University of Maryland-College Park in the Registrar’s Office.

Esther met the late Norman C. “Pete” Laffer (Major, US Army) through mutual friends; they married in 1942. They had four children; one son, Peter Laffer, preceded Mr. Laffer in death.

Mrs. Laffer was a charter member of the University United Methodist Church in College Park, MD, where she was active in the Crib Room (infant nursery) and in charge of wedding receptions. She served as treasurer of the United Methodist Women’s Organization. She was a Girl Scout leader and worked at the election polls for many years. Esther enjoyed handiwork and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed traveling, both to visit family and friends, and around the world to such places as Africa, Thailand and India. During her time at Asbury Methodist Village, Mrs. Laffer volunteered at the Bargain Mart and the Mund Reception area.

Those who remain to cherish her memory include: Susan Updegrove (Craig); Trudy Laffer; Esther Smith (Don); fifteen grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, extended family and friends, many of whom reside at Asbury Methodist Village.

Susan Laffer Updegrove, Esther Coker Laffer, Trudy Laffer,

Peter Callender Laffer, Norman “Pete” Callender Laffer, Esther Laffer Smith

Front: Trudy, Susan, Esther

Back: Norman, Peter, Esther

Cornelius Laffer

9-10-1867 - 10/12/1928

Father of Norman “Pete” Laffer

Gertrude Sackett Laffer

8-1868 - 4-26-1954

Mother of Norman “Pete” Laffer

With Pete Laffer

Elizabeth  &  Charles Coker

8/11/1874 - 2/25/1966     9/21/1870 - 11/22/1941

Parents of Esther Coker Laffer

Family of Cornelius & Gertrude Laffer

Cornelius (father), Gertrude (mother), Fred, Betsy (Elizabeth), Mary, and Norman (Pete)

Circa 1925


Charles & Elizabeth Coker

Upper Left


Elizabeth Coker

Upper Right


Elizabeth Coker

holding Trudy Laffer

Left

Elizabeth Coker

Charles & Elizabeth Coker

Elizabeth Coker

(Holding Trudy Laffer)