Laurence Aloysius Gavin

June 15, 1946 - September 17, 2018

Dr. Laurence Gavin, M.D., FRCP, FACP, FACE, passed away peacefully at his home in Hillsborough. Larry was born on June 15, 1946 in Bagenalstown, County Carlow, Ireland to John and Teresa (Tessie) Gavin. In his early years Larry was raised on the family farm, Fenniscourt, where he ran the fields and developed a deep love for horses and the Gaelic sport of hurling. Larry attended boarding school at Rockwell College in Cashel Co. Tipperary educated by the Holy Ghost Fathers. It is here where his gifts for academics, mechanics and science flourished. He matriculated to the University College Dublin (UCD) studying medicine, graduating in 1970 where he then continued higher education at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, National University of Ireland, School of Medicine. When Larry was Senior House Doctor at the Mater Hospital he met a young sing student,Ina Duggan. Their fondness for one another blossomed into true love, and Larry and Ina were married in Dublin on October 30,1971.In 1973 their first child was born, Sinead Patricia.

In 1974, Larry was offered a fellowship to pursue higher training in Endocrinology – Metabolism at University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco (UCSF). Having emigrated from Ireland to the United States only knowing a handful of people, they built an amazing community that has lovingly embraced the family.

He pioneered Diabetic Medicine at the Veterans Hospital of San Francisco and continued his leadership in academia and research at the UCSF earning full professor status. He then transitioned into private practice, starting the medical group Comprehensive Diabetes – Endocrine Mediacal Associates, Inc. He was past President of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), sat on the board of American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist (AACE), published many articles for medical journals and earned honors in his field. Larry devoted much of his free time to Our Lady of Angels (OLA) school and parish, including being school board President, coaching youth team sports, and along with Ina, educated OLA students about “family life”.

In October of 2011, Larry lost his wife (just shy of 40 years), and first love, Ina. Larry and Ina together leave the legacy of their four children, and three grandchildren, as well as the beautiful community of family and friends. In September of 2013, Larry found love again and the Gavin family welcomed Janie Mangus. Larry and Janie had a love that glowed. It was warm and understanding.

Larry had a passion for golf and the good company he found on the course. He served on the board of the Peninsula Golf and Country Club for several years and in April of 2018 he had the pleasure of enjoying “his final round,” with two of his six brothers and friends at the esteemed Masters in Augusta Georgia.

Larry loved to travel to his native Ireland with family. He loved a good party, especially with stories and Irish sing-along. He enjoyed spending time in Lake Tahoe, listening to music, and following both Gaelic and American sports.

Larry is survived and remembered fondly as the husband of Ina Gavin; brother of Sean, Tom, Eamon, Patrick, Liam and Noel Gavin; proud father to his daughter and son-inlaw, Sinead and Andrew Broughton of Tiburon, CA; his son and daughter-in-law, Eamon and Marlee Gavin of Seattle WA; his son and daughter-in-law, John and Kristin Gavin of San Francisco, CA; his son Brian Gavin of Los Angeles, CA; his beloved partner, Janie Mangus of Tiburon, CA; his three grandchildren, Ashley Rose Broughton and Caroline Broughton and Maccoy Edward Gavin.

The family would like to acknowledge the exceptional medical teams of Dr. Bradley Ekstrand at California Cancer Care Inc., Dr. Eric Small at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Center (UCSF), Dr. Al Taira at Mills Peninsula, Dr. John Connolly at Mid Peninsula Urology, and Dr. Maureen Dudgeon at Mission Hospice, as well as the nursing team at the Mills Peninsula Infusion Center. Additionally, a special thank you to the small in-home care team, Marcela Crawford, Bernadette (Bernie) Doherty, Sandi Stephenson and Nicole Schumacher. Finally, thank you to our nurturing family friends, for their care, support and love of Larry in his final days.

A visitation will be held at Our Lady of Angels Church on Monday, September 24th at 6:00pm, followed by a Rosary at 7:00pm. Friends and family are invited to a Funeral Mass on Tuesday, September 25, at 10:00am, also at Our Lady of Angels Church, 1721 Hillside Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Capuchin Franciscan Order of CA Foundation for Retired Friars Tax ID# 20-0633436 and/or The Prostate Cancer Foundation a 501(c ) (3) charitable organization EIN #95-4418411.