DEATH / LODGE NOTICES

LONG, Lauriston

Lauriston “Larry” Hardin Long of Baltimore, Maryland died on March 4, 2022, after a valiant battle with stage IV Glioblastoma that was diagnosed on September 30, 2021.

Larry is survived by his wife of 54 years Dianna Alice Wynn, his two children Ashley Capehart Long, Baltimore, MD and Lauriston (Lars) Hagen Long, Mariefred, Sweden, his four grandchildren, Emma Bailey Long Cotter, Vincent Hagen Long, Selma Karin Long and Alice Tilde Gustavsson, and his sister Troy Long Patterson, West Chester, PA and his brother, Noyes Capehart Long, Jr., Boone, North Carolina.

Son of Noyes Capehart Long, Sr. and Tibbie Troy Hardin Long, Larry was born on August 15th, 1937, in Madison, Tennessee and grew up in Old Hickory. He married Dianna Alice Wynn of Sevierville, Tennessee on April 29, 1967. Larry spent most of his adult life in Gaithersburg, Maryland, beginning in 1974.

Larry graduated from DuPont High School in Old Hickory, Tennessee in 1955; Sewanee, The University of the South, with a degree in political science in 1959 (where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity); The University of Tennessee College of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1964; and attended The London School of Economics in 1972-73 as the recipient of the Secretary of Labor’s Career Service Award.

Larry was a staunch and progressive liberal despite his middle Tennessee roots. He marched in the Civil Rights movement, stood up to police harassment and abuse, and was arrested for non-violent resistance. He channeled his liberal ideals and his brilliant mind into his practice of law. Larry dedicated his career to public service as a civil servant working primarily for the federal Department of Labor in Washington DC. He was a champion of the underdog and the working man. His love and mastery of the law inspired his daughter to enter the profession and he served as her lifelong “of counsel”. His legal heroes included Justices Thurgood Marshall and William Brennan. Larry was an enthusiastic supporter of, and campaign volunteer for, President Barack Obama.

Larry was the consummate creator and planner of fun. He orchestrated an annual family and friends pilgrimage to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. When Larry wasn’t at the center of the action directing the circus, he was invariably dozing in a hammock listening to his one of his two favorite sounds in the world, the waves crashing on the shore (the other, the sound of children’s laughter).

Larry loved jazz, especially live at Blues Alley, and playing golf, especially with his son in Scotland, and comedy, especially stand-up at Second City. Larry was not always full of positivity – there were certain things he strongly disliked such as yuppies, yogurt and sushi (which he associated with yuppies), underperforming at putt-putt golf, the word “Xmas”, people who do not say “thank you” when the door is held for them, and Donald Trump.

Larry was also dedicated to his sobriety, having stopped drinking in March 1983. He was not only committed to maintaining his sobriety but to helping so many others with their struggles and journeys.

Larry was an extremely devoted and enthusiastic father and grandfather. He never missed a performance, match or game. He served as his granddaughter, Emma’s, personal school chauffer for over 8 years filling each car ride with either discussions on current events, loudly playing his favorite songs or, when seasonally appropriate, belting out the 12 Days of Christmas together in alternating verses. He attended most Halloween trick-or-treating evenings in full costume and make-up as The Cat in the Hat, he donned bunny ears each Easter for the morning egg hunt, and he artfully read T’was the Night Before Christmas each and every Christmas Eve. While he wasn’t able to spend the same amount of time with his Swedish grandchildren, he treasured every moment with them – endlessly playing on the floor, going to ice hockey games, and taking them to the amusement park. Of all of the things that gave Larry joy, his grandchildren claimed the uncontested spot at #1.

Larry was different than most adults in that he would rather sit at the “kids table” than at the adult’s. He adored children and reveled in making them laugh. Larry’s love of his own children and grandchild easily extended to their friends. So very many regard Larry (or Grandy, or ML, or the Great Grandini, or Larry, or Mr. Long) as their “2nd” father or grandfather and recall that some of their best childhood memories were attributable to him.

While his family and friends feel an immeasurable sense of loss with his passing, they are filled with joy and gratitude at having been so fortunate to have had such a wonderfully loving, smart, kind, and fun person in their lives.

Consistent with Larry’s request, his remains will be distributed to beloved friends and family to spread at many of his favorite places around the world. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center (https://baltseafarers.org) or Doctors Without Borders (https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org).