WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Renzie William Lamb Jr., 81, the beloved, iconic retired men's lacrosse coach at Williams College, died on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 30, 1937, son of Renzie William and Cecilia (Wehrum) Lamb.  Renzie grew up on Long Island, graduating from Chaminade High School and Hofstra University, where he played football and lacrosse and was a member of the legendary 1956 "Tiny Twenty" football team.

While a student at Hofstra, Renzie joined the U.S. Marine Corps and trained as an Officer Candidate at Quantico. Renzie was commissioned a second lieutenant and was assigned to the Fleet Marine Force, 1st Marine Brigade in Kaneohe, Hawaii, as an Infantry Officer. There he served a three-year tour with the Second Battalion, 4th Marines. During this tour, he was promoted to first lieutenant, served as Rifle Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander, and made several deployments to the Asian Theatre. 

After completing his active duty, Renzie was transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve and began his civilian career. During his Marine Corps duty, Renzie was able to continue his strong association with athletics – playing football for the Service Champions - Quantico Marines, coaching lacrosse at Quantico and coaching 1st Marine Brigade Football Teams in Hawaii.

Following his military service, Renzie taught at Iona Prep High School, where he coached football and had an undefeated season in 1966. He also coached lacrosse at Manhasset High School, where they won the Long Island Championship in 1967. Renzie arrived at Williams College in the summer of 1968 to serve as an assistant football coach, assistant professor of physical education and head lacrosse coach. He coached the Williams lacrosse team for 35 years until his retirement in 2003.  He compiled an overall record of 252-184 and had 30 All-American athletes. His teams qualified for 22 ECAC championships, winning five titles and finishing second nine times.  His teams qualified for 12 consecutive championships from 1986 to 1997. He also won six Snively League titles and 19 outright Little Three championships with four ties. 

Renzie was also an assistant football coach at Williams for 35 years, helping record the first five perfect seasons in its long history.  Additionally, he served as the women's squash coach at Williams from 1977 to 1987, winning six Little Three titles.

Renzie was the first Division III coach inducted into the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December 2016. He is also a member of the Manhasset (N.Y.) Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame and was a recipient of the IMLCA Lifetime Service Award in 2002. He was a past president of the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) and past member of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Executive Board.  

Renzie has served as the president of the Williams College Sideline Quarterback Club for several years and was a member of the Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown.  In 2014, Renzie was honored by Williams College for the second time, naming Farley-Lamb Field at the former Weston Field complex in his name along with his long time friend, Coach Dick Farley.

Survivors include his wife, Teresa M. Harron-Lamb, whom he married on August 10, 1991; two daughters, Tracy Chipman of North Fort Myers, Fla., and Stephanie Lamb of Delray Beach, Fla.; two stepsons, Eugene Bernardo of South Kingstown, R.I., and Raymond Bernardo of Cranston, R.I.; five grandchildren, including Renzie Chipman, Molly Chipman, Maggie MacCallum, Bridget Bernardo and Margot Bernardo; two sisters, Jane Sullivan of Syracuse, N.Y., and Nancy Farley of Derby, Kansas; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Renzie W. Lamb Jr. will be celebrated Friday November 30, 2018, at 11 a.m. at the Thompson Memorial Chapel on the Williams College campus.  Burial will follow in the College Cemetery.  

There are no calling hours. Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org/donate ) or Williams College Athletics (give.evertrue.com/williams/athletics ) or in care of Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, 74 Marshall St., North Adams, MA 01247.