Laurence Codori Jr.

Codori Laurence M. Jr. On November 3, 2023, Laurence M. Codori, Jr. departed this life peacefully following several years of declining health due to Parkinson's disease. His five daughters, their spouses, and his two grandsons are broken-hearted, but they feel some measure of solace knowing that he is no longer suffering and is now in the warm embrace of his late wife, Helen M. Codori (nee Bucci), who passed away suddenly in June 2022. Laurence M. Codori, Jr. was born in Philadelphia on August 20, 1931, the first son and fifth of six children of the late Dr. Laurence Murray Codori, Sr. and his wife, Marie Agnes Silk. He was reared in Philadelphia in the Irish neighborhood known as "Swampoodle" and enjoyed playing sandlot football and pick-up basketball games. He was educated in the Philadelphia Catholic school system attending St. Columba School and graduating from Roman Catholic High School in 1949. He was known for his sharp wit and irreverent sense of humor. Laurence enjoyed spending summers with his sisters and brother at Medford Lakes, NJ, where he enjoyed the family's log cabin, the quiet wooded surroundings, and the thrill of horse jumping, which sparked his life-long passion for horses. Throughout his life, Laurence enjoyed watching boxing matches and could easily recount his favorite bouts and boxers spanning from his youth to present day. In addition, Laurence loved music and could recite his favorite musicians, which included Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Dick Haymes, Jerry Vale, and The Ink Spots. While he spent much of his adult life in the Washington, D.C. area, he remained a staunch Philadelphia Eagles fan. Following high school, Laurence enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, underwent basic training at Sampson Air Force Base and was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, where he trained to be a mechanic for a variety of aircraft, including the F-80, F-82, F-86, and P-51. He served in the Korean War, spending 13 months in Japan and 11 months in Kunsan Air Base (Korea) that he affectionately called, "Kunsan by the Sea." Laurence jokingly bragged that he had "travelled extensively in the Orient" and referred to himself as "a veteran of foreign wars who defended democracy from the communist hordes." After returning from Korea, he was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, where he met his future wife of 68 years, Helen, at the NCO club. Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Laurence worked for C&P Telephone (later Bell Atlantic and Verizon), first as a lineman and later as a skilled telephone technician at multiple government agencies, including the EPA and State Department. He was responsible for ensuring telephone-line security for confidential conversations. He had the pleasure of meeting Henry Kissinger and recounted that Mr. Kissinger referred to him as his favorite tech, because "he got the work done." Following over 35 years of service, Laurence retired in 1994. Laurence and Helen were married in 1954 and they welcomed five daughters in 10 years. While Laurence viewed his family as a blessing, it was simultaneously a source of financial worry, since he took his responsibility as the provider seriously. Consequently, he spent much of his young adult life working six to seven days a week, taking on as much overtime as possible - his work ethic was exceptional. Laurence instilled in his children the importance of education and paid for their Catholic school tuitions from first through 12th grade and provided financial support during college. To say he was proud that his five daughters are all college graduates is an understatement. As his daughters grew up and started their own families, Laurence and Helen continued their generosity by hosting annual family vacations in Sea Isle City, NJ - a tradition that lasted for more than 20 years. Laurence was blessed with two grandsons, whom he loved dearly, and he revealed to them a silly and affectionate side that few were permitted to witness. When they were little, he enjoyed giving them whisker kisses, tickling them with the "Winkus Wonkus," and building raging "Christmas fires." In addition, he happily attended Grandparents' Days, baseball games, and Irish dance competitions and he would always provide extra cash for arcade games. While his grandsons are now young men, his affection for them remained and he beamed with pride each time he saw them. Aside from family, Laurence's passion was training harness race horses and he was truly gifted at it. He owned and trained a number over the years and often raced them himself. Despite his demanding work schedule, for many years Laurence was at the barn early every morning, prompting others at the track to wonder if he ever slept. Being with his horses truly made him happy. Laurence is survived by his loving children and their spouses Ann Marie Codori (George Fisk), Nancy Codori (Richard Boardman), Margaret Codori (Tina Mayes), Michele Codori (Susan Spence) and Jeanne Codori-Hurff (Christopher Hurff), his cherished grandsons, Evan Codori Boardman and Aidan Laurence Hurff. In addition to his parents and his infant sister, Nancy, Laurence was predeceased by his three sisters, Margaret Kozakowski Youell (Philadelphia), Blanche Murphy (Philadelphia), and Marie Arneodau (France), and brother, John Codori (Philadelphia). Laurence is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. Laurence's family respectfully invites relatives and friends to the Visitation on Monday, November 13 from 6-8P.M. at George P. Kalas Funeral Home, Oxon Hill, MD. A Visitation at 10A.M. and Funeral Mass at 11A.M. will be held on Tuesday, November 14 at Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Upper Marlboro, MD. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton, MD. Memorial Contributions may be made to the "Laurence M. Codori, Jr. '49 Endowed Scholarship" at Roman Catholic High School (romancatholichs.com/give) or to the Parkinson's Foundation (parkinson.org).