Laurence "Larry" Finnigan's Obituary
FINNIGAN, LAURENCE “LARRY” Age 77, of Richardson, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 27, 2013, with his family by his side. Born on December 6, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, he was the youngest of five children. Larry met his wife, Barbara, when they were sophomores at Proviso High School, outside of Chicago. They married the year after graduation. He is preceded by his parents and four siblings. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two daughters, Kathy and Karen; numerous nieces and nephews and good friends. Larry spent two years in the US Army at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia, where he learned data processing. He then joined IBM in Chicago. Larry worked for IBM for 35 years in Chicago, IL; White Plains, NY; and various locations in the Dallas area. He traveled to Germany to author an IBM Red Book in 1984. But his most exciting assignment was in the spring of 1978 when he went to Shenyang, China in advance of IBM’s first mainframe installation. He was active in the communities where he lived, starting as a Boy Scout leader in Melrose Park, Illinois. When he moved the family to Yorktown Heights, NY, he continued as a Boy Scout leader. He became a Little League Baseball coach and Pop Warner Football coach. While president of the Mohansic Boys Club, because he had two daughters and the vice president had four daughters, they decided to hold a registration for girls interested in softball. To their amazement, over 200 girls showed up to register. This was the first girls’ softball league to be sponsored by a boys club. He also ran junior bowling leagues in New York and Illinois where he taught his daughters to bowl. He enjoyed bowling, playing bridge and golfing, as well as fishing off of the Rhode Island coast. Larry and his family were transferred to Dallas in 1979, making their home in Richardson, where he continued to golf, bowl, play bridge and travel. He retired from IBM in 1992. After retirement, he volunteered at the school where his daughter, Karen, taught. Later, he worked part-time at Ebby Halliday, Inc. He retired again in 2006 due to health issues. Larry was a loving husband, fantastic father and great friend. He will be sorely missed, but not forgotten. He will live on in our memories. His family would like to give special thanks to Karen McKenzie and Livingstone Otumbo, two of the best caregivers in the world; Hospice Plus nurses Mona Soliman, Tina Hawthorne, and Christy Samuel; and Hospice Plus aide, Eddie Ndwaru; for the phenomenal loving care they gave Larry. Service will be held Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 11:00 AM at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Community. Donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association.
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