Lawrence William Ward

Lawrence William Ward, Jr. died on November 20 of esophageal cancer at his home in Truckee, CA, surrounded by those he loved most. He was 71. Larry was born on September 18, 1952, in Portland, Maine. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Edith Ann (Skillings) Ward and Lawrence William Ward, Sr. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 40 years, Rosemary (McKenna) Ward; his children, Madison Marquez (Michael), Sydney Ward (Mike Dahlquist), Peyton Ward (Jim Hatzopoulos), and Winston Ward; his grandchildren, Ryan and Cole Marquez and Lawrence Hatzopoulos-Ward; his sister Eileen Barrett (John) and brother Kevin Ward (Ashley); and his many beloved nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces. Larry graduated from Cincinnati Country Day School and Harvard College. Larry met Rosemary when they were both students at Columbia Business School, and the two spent their early years in New York before venturing to California. There, they built a life raising their growing family and exploring the great outdoors. Larry and Rosemary lived twenty years in Orinda, California, before relocating to Orange County. Throughout, they spent every summer in Kennebunk Beach, Maine with extended family. Since 2000, the family has enjoyed their home near Lake Tahoe, where Larry and Rosemary moved full-time in 2020. Professionally, Larry was a respected investment banker and private equity partner who began his banking career at the Manufacturers Hanover Trust in New York. He joined Kidder, Peabody & Company after receiving his MBA. In California, Larry continued his career at Plantronics and American Industrial Partners, among other entities. Well known for operational and financial savvy, Larry was often called on to serve as CFO or COO at companies purchased by the private equity firms where he worked. His colleagues remember him not only for his exceptional skills but also for his warmth, thoughtfulness, and humor in a highly competitive business environment. Influenced by his father’s passion for sports, Larry was an avid athlete, playing hockey in high school and college. He also frequented the tennis courts, golf courses, mountain trails, and ski slopes. On trips to his childhood home in Cincinnati, Larry would proudly share stories of the impressive number of vertical feet he skied in a day by being on the first chair up and leaving close to dusk-thirty. Larry loved music, especially live performances. Among his early favorites were Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, countless Grateful Dead shows and more than 15 seasons at the San Francisco Opera. He was a lifelong guitar enthusiast, despite never taking a single lesson until two years ago. Larry also generously volunteered to help steward local organizations by serving on several non-profit boards, among them the Sage Hill School, as well as supporting his own alma maters. Recently, Larry served as the President of the Lahontan Community Association. Larry was a man of many passions and talents, but above all, he was devoted to his family—his greatest source of joy. Even with his demanding job, Larry took the time to coach his children’s soccer teams, teach them to ski and play golf, and attend their games and performances. He was a devoted and true partner to Rosemary, with whom he could frequently be found hiking, snowshoeing, cycling, playing golf, or skiing. Their Truckee house has been the home base for family gatherings, from holidays to weekends away for their Bay Area-based children. Larry was also blessed to have many close friends from childhood, college, and career—relationships that endured because he was steadfast about staying in touch and always ready to support a friend in need. A funeral service for Lawrence William Ward, Jr. will be held at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Truckee on December 2nd at 10AM, with a reception following at Camp Lahontan at 7050 Lahontan Drive in Truckee. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Gene Upshaw Cancer Center in Truckee.

Tributes

Lawrence William Ward

September 18, 1952 - November 20, 2023