David and Joan Lincoln
On "Why We Chose John C. Lincoln Legacy Society"
Ask David and Joan Lincoln why they are members of the Lincoln Legacy Society and they both answer at once: "We believe in it."
Those simple words speak volumes for the Lincolns, whose support is sought by organizations across the country. They are selective in where they invest their time and money, because they take their investments seriously.
"We support organizations that stand for what we stand for—which is community, family and doing the right thing," says David.
"The Golden Rule—treating others as you want to be treated—is really simple. And that code of ethics is what's at the heart of successful organizations."
He points to John C. Lincoln Health Network as an organization that is built on that principle—and has thrived, as a result.
"It's stayed true to its mission," he says. "It was founded on the principles of community service, medical excellence and treating people with dignity and respect. An organization built on those principles will not fail."
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David and Joan Lincoln, with their beloved Pepper |
David is the son of John C. and Helen Lincoln, founders of what is now the John C. Lincoln Health Network. His dad and an uncle founded Lincoln Electric Co., which is still recognized almost a century later as one of the most progressive companies in American history, setting the standards for other companies in the areas of human resources.
"At some point as a young adult, I started thinking about what had made the company successful, and realized it was its ethics. I looked around at other successful companies and they shared the same values—they treat people well," he says. "It’s a lesson in business that I learned from my parents' example."
David grew up in Phoenix, and returned with his young bride after meeting her through her brother, a fellow student at Cal Tech. Joan and her family were living in Redondo Beach when they met. Her dad headed Bethlehem Steel's ship-building efforts.
"I was a student at Scripps, and all my friends and I liked the Cal Tech men—they were smart, very sweet engineers, but they had very few social skills," she remembers with a twinkle in her eye. "But they were all good guys," she says as she looks at her husband of 57 years.
Joan speaks of the injustices she saw in California during World War II, when Japanese families were rounded up and moved to internment camps.
"It was wrong," she says, remembering the indignity of what happened. "When people do the right thing, it shows in everything they do. They carry themselves with pride, they smile from the heart, and they look at you—not past you, but at you—when they speak.
"People at John C. Lincoln do the right thing, regardless of the task. It shows in their interaction with one another, with patients and with the community," she says.
The pair, married in 1950, is a team in most matters, big and small. They have reared four kids and now parent a beloved four-legged critter named Pepper. They are active in their church and community, and carefully choose where to invest their support.
Joan is an accomplished ceramics artist; she and her husband made the Ceramics Research Center at Arizona State University possible. David is an avid hiker and believer in fitness; the Phoenix YMCA is one of the Lincolns' favorite investments. Many other groups benefit from their generosity.
The Lincolns are a team, it’s clear. But not necessarily when it comes to politics—that’s a topic where discussion gets especially lively.
"Let’s go back to discussing Lincoln Legacy Society," says David, with one of his trademark ear-to-ear grins. "It’s much safer territory for me."