The love story of John Pierrepont Langford “Lang” Hatcher and Cornelia “Nini” Wayland-Smith Hatcher began almost 80 years ago. They grew up next to each other, got married, and spent decades together happily raising their children and caring for their community.

They were both descendants of two prominent families in the Oneida community in Kenwood, who went on to form Oneida, Ltd., the world-famous Oneida silverware maker. With the Oneida Community Mansion being central to their lives, Lang chose to create the John Pierrepont Langford & Cornelia Hatcher Fund with a bequest that will support the Mansion for years to come.

In April 2021, the John Pierrepont Langford & Cornelia Hatcher Fund was officially opened at the Central New York Community Foundation. The fund will provide resources to the Mansion House in perpetuity.

Lang was a well-known presence in Oneida, but not just because of his family ties. He was highly educated, had a steel trap memory, and was meticulous in all his efforts. His curiosity led him to become an expert in fields ranging from the history to geology of New York State, and beyond. Nini always noted that Lang wanted to do his best.

Lang was born in Saratoga Springs before moving to Oneida. He graduated from Colgate University in 1954, joined the United States Army and then attended the Wharton School of Business where he obtained an MBA in 1958. After working for McCann-Erickson Advertising in New York for several years he returned home to Oneida. and joined the family business Oneida, Ltd.

At Oneida, Ltd. he held many positions including Managing Director UK Operations in Bangor, Northern Ireland and later in London. He retired in 1995. Lang has been actively engaged as a member of the board of directors of Colgate Alumni Corporation. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Oneida Community Mansion House and has served on the Boards of the Crouse Community Center in Morrisville, the Oneida City Planning Commission, and the Oneida Area Arts Council.

Nini was a kind, caring and loving person who never shied away from charity. Whether she spent many hours volunteering at Hazel Carpenter Adult Home, an assisted living community in Oneida, or served on the Planned Parenthood board for over 30 years, Nini was always busy. . But she was never too busy to be a good mom.

Lang and Nini loved to read. While Nini preferred works of fiction, Lang appreciated historical narratives. One of his university professors said: “Why read novels when you can read history? You have better characters and it’s all true.

Lang created his own historical memoirs and wrote “Oneida (Community) Ltd. : A Goodly Heritage Gone Wrong ”, published in 2017.

After Nini’s death, Lang contacted the family’s trust and estate attorney who suggested setting up a fund at the Community Foundation as an ideal way to manage his bequest and help preserve the community’s legacy. Oneida and the Mansion House.

Lang has plans in place to establish a donor advised fund as part of his estate plans: the John Pierrepont Langford & Cornelia Hatcher Fund. Their fund will be administered by their four children who will be able to make meaningful gifts to their parents’ favorite causes in a flexible way.

Lang Hatcher later passed away on September 25, 2020. Lang and Nini will both fondly remember their families as kind and patient caregivers who loved each other, their family and their community with every fiber of their being.

The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity established in 1927 that receives contributions from donors, manages their growth over time, and then distributes funds to local charities to help them thrive. It is the largest charitable foundation in central New York City with assets of over $ 366 million and has invested over $ 230 million in community improvement projects since its inception.

As a donor, civic leader, organizer and sponsor of strategic initiatives, the Community Foundation works to strengthen local nonprofits, foster a better understanding of the region, and address the most critical issues in the world. our time.