On Monday afternoon, January 30, 2023, Laura Lynne Witt passed away suddenly from the rupture of an unsuspected intracranial aneurysm.
Laura is preceded in death by her parents Toby and Marilyn Balles, nee Lunderstadt. She is survived by her brother Mark Balles, sister Jennifer Baumann, her husband Thomas, and their two children Caroline and Sam.
Laura was born in Rochester, New York, on June 5th, 1968. She grew up in Pittsford, New York, where she graduated from Pittsford Mendon High School as class valedictorian.
After graduating from Princeton University with a BA in politics, Laura joined Oliver, Wyman & Company in New York as a strategy consultant. She jumped at the opportunity to join Oliver, Wyman’s newly established Frankfurt office in Germany, where she met her future husband Thomas.
After becoming fluent in German, Laura moved to London with Thomas and continued her consulting career with Monitor Company. Laura moved to Philadelphia to earn an MBA from Wharton Business School, while Thomas stayed behind in London. Being apart for two years was a tough time for both. Laura and Thomas married at Princeton University Chapel in 1997 and settled in Maryland, where Laura joined ABS Capital Partners.
Laura worked at ABS for over twenty years and as a general partner focused on technology investing. Laura and Thomas’ two children were born in 2007 and 2009 in Baltimore.
Having skied at Alta every year for over twenty years, Laura and Thomas decided to move to Utah with their children. Laura teamed up with a group of talented partners at the Drawdown Fund, investing in businesses that address climate change.
Laura was a great listener. She was interested in so many things and loved to discuss art, music, history, politics and economics. She was a great writer and excellent at conveying tough messages in a positive manner. In a difficult situation, Laura would always see the positive side of things to allow everyone to move forward constructively. We will all greatly miss Laura’s counsel on big and small family matters as well as investment decisions. Her calm and balanced personality was a source of great strength for all of us.
We all loved how modest Laura was considering all her achievements and successes.
Laura led an active life, skiing Alta every week with her family and skating with her women’s Nordic ski group. In summer, there would be hiking, biking and exploring Utah.
Laura had a great sense of humor and was simply just fun to be with. She was intimately involved in all of her children’s activities. Above all, she was a loving and affectionate wife, mother and sister.
Laura will be missed terribly.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to support causes that Laura cared deeply about. Donations can be made here:
https://parkcitycf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2453
My children go to school
with Caroline and our family is deeply sorry for your loss. She lived a meaningful life.
Our hearts go out to Thomas and the children. We are neighbors in the Woods and were so sorry to hear about Laura’s passing. Please accept our heartfelt condolences at this difficult time.
Love, The Olsen’s
I am so very sad to hear this news. Laura and I were classmates at Wharton. Not only was Laura one of the most brilliant people I have met, she was also one of the kindest. This world has lost a beautiful soul, too soon and too suddenly. My heart goes to her family.
Thomas - Deb and I both send our condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I worked with Laura for 15 years at ABS Capital Partners. She was such a pleasure to work with - wickedly smart, generous with her time and respectful of everyone's opinions while providing great advice. It is such a shock when someone so young and healthy passes suddenly and my heartfelt condolences go out to Thomas, Caroline and Sam.
Although I did not know Laura personally, I know how loved she was by the Waterford community of parents, students and faculty. May her family find solace and healing in her memories.
My deepest condolences.
I am so sorry to hear of Laura's passing. We were classmates at Princeton, and I remember her as a kind and fun-loving person with a quiet intellect. May her memory be a comfort to all who loved her.