Lamont Donor Profile: Don Sicard
When I met Don Sicard over Zoom recently, he was in an unexpected place: the alpine town of Sondrio, Italy, nestled in the Valtellina valley near the Swiss border. It’s where his wife’s family lives, and now—freshly retired after a distinguished career in the international insurance brokerage industry—it’s where Don and his wife Debbie plan on spending more time.
This period marks a well-earned chapter of exploration for someone whose life has been shaped by dedication and in whom a passion for music has always played a steady, guiding role.
Early Inspirations
Don grew up just outside Hartford, Connecticut, where his family members still live: three brothers, nine nieces and nephews, and now ten grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He recalls attending Christmas services at Trinity College with his father, who loved the organ. The grandeur of the chorale, the rich sound of the instrument, and the tradition of those visits left a lasting impression.
“Organ was my first keyboard instrument,” Don recalls. “I studied it for years, before and during high school. I just loved it.” He was accepted as an organ major at the Ithaca College School of Music in 1978, but when financial aid fell short, the disappointment was sharp. Yet his conviction remained strong: music would always be a part of his life.
He stayed connected to music by enrolling at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School as a business major with a music minor. Music gave him confidence. “It got me out of my shell,” he says. “I seemed to excel at it. And the discipline of practicing carried over into the rest of my life: if you’re going to do it, you want to do it well.”
A Road Trip West and a New Beginning
A friend in Denver altered Don’s path with a simple suggestion: take a road trip west after sophomore year. They drove across the country, visited the University of Denver and CU Boulder, and Don was captivated. In 1980 he packed up his belongings and moved to Colorado.
DU was facing financial challenges at the time—a “dark time,” as Don describes it—but he saw opportunity. He joined the BSBA program and began working full-time in the insurance industry to support his education. That job became the foundation of a global career.
He completed his degree in 1982 and even began an MBA, but an unexpected opportunity presented itself: a position in London. He didn’t hesitate. “I worked with international clients most of my career,” he says. “I had the chance to work in different countries, experience different cultures. It was an incredible education in itself.”
His connection to Lamont was minimal during his student years, partly because he worked full-time and the school was located off-campus at the time. However, just a few years after graduating, he began to feel drawn back to music.
Return to Music
Don eventually returned to the piano, studying seriously with professional teachers. He owns a 33-year-old Baldwin grand that accompanied him to London and back. One of his early teachers, Mallory Bernstein, was a DU student at the time and is now the executive director of Education Through Music Colorado, which brings music programming to Denver Public Schools.
This mission resonates deeply with Don, who benefited from a comprehensive K-12 music education—something he sees fading nationwide. “It’s sad to see what’s happened,” he reflects. “Music was such an important part of my development.”
He continues to practice diligently, studies with professional pianist Joshua Sawicki, and is preparing for a December recital featuring the Andante from Bach’s Sonata No. 4 in E Minor, BWV 528, originally written for organ. “It’s one of the more complex Bach pieces I’ve learned,” he says. “Originally written for organ, which makes it more of a challenge to play on piano.”
For Don, music remains both an art and a sanctuary. “You can get lost in it,” he says. “The practice, the study… you can tune everything else out for a couple of hours.” He adds, “The arts can make one a better person. A healthier person.”
Why He Gives Back
Don and his wife have been fortunate, financially, professionally, and in their health. Gratitude is central to his desire to give back. “I firmly believe that it doesn’t come out of nowhere,” he explains. “We worked hard and made good decisions. And when that happens, you have a responsibility to give back.”
He feels education is the right place to invest. At DU, Don has established endowments for both the Lamont School of Music and the Daniels College of Business, the two pillars of his academic and personal growth. His scholarship fund for Lamont students, which has grown significantly, supports students where the need is greatest.
One of his favorite parts of giving is meeting the students who receive support. “They tell me they wouldn’t be here without the scholarship,” he says. “That means everything. You see firsthand the difference it makes in their opportunities, their exposure to the world.”
A Future of Learning and Exploring
Retirement hasn’t slowed Don down. In addition to piano lessons, he is studying Italian: two hours of classes twice a week, with additional practice in between. His background in French helps, and he is committed to mastering the language.
There’s a sense of openness in how Don approaches this next chapter: more travel, more time with family in Italy, more music, and more learning. And always, more giving back.
“You get to a place in your life when it’s time to give back to society,” he says. “For me, that’s about education. I wouldn’t be where I am without what I learned: at Lamont, in business school, and in music in general. All of it is part of who I am.”
In this way, Don Sicard is still very much the young musician who first found confidence at the organ bench: disciplined, curious, and quietly determined to ensure that future generations have access to the same transformative power of music.
