LAWRENCE R. WERNER

WERNER
LAWRENCE R.
On Monday, June 2, 2014, Larry Werner, 80, after a courageous three year battle with pancreatic cancer, passed away at his home in Franklin Park with family surrounding him. A native of Freedom, PA, Larry was a well-regarded senior public relations executive with a 50-year career in rendering advice to community and business leaders. Larry is the son of the late Charles and Pauline (Short) Werner; and brother of five siblings, the late Patricia Werner, Rita (Joseph) Kasunic, Raymond (Susan) Werner, Bernie (Suzanne) Werner, and Kathleen (Bob) Millward; he is the beloved father of Lawrence, Jr. (Bobbie), Victor, Pamela (David) Griffith, and Bern (Jeannie); grandfather (Pops) to 11 of their children, including one deceased, and two step-grandchildren; he is the loving husband of Mary (Hatton) Werner; and stepfather to Lisa Werner; Larry was previously married to Joy Werner, the mother of their children. Larry was a devoted uncle, friend, neighbor and colleague to many. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, and taught them how to get the most out of life and stressed the importance of relationships through his love and generosity. He served his country in the Korean War as a Corporal in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Duquesne University with a B.A. in Communications and Minor in Science, and from Carnegie Mellon with a M.A. in English. He began his career as a reporter with United Press International followed by public relations and senior management roles with U.S. Steel Corporation and Equibank before serving as Executive Vice President of Ketchum Public Relations in Pittsburgh from 1984 until 2001. Up until this year, Larry continued to consult with clients. Among his many professional acknowledgements, Larry was recently recognized by retired U.S. Army public affairs officers for his work in preparing them prior to their senior level assignments at the Pentagon or other high level assignments. An advisor to numerous corporate and non-profit Boards, Larry was best known for his work in crisis management including being a member of the post-assessment evaluation team for the Exxon Valdez disaster. He received the Public Relations Society of America's first Lifetime Achievement Award in Pittsburgh. Larry was an active volunteer for numerous organizations, an advocate of the arts and served on the Boards of the Ronald McDonald House, where he was past president, Boy Scouts of America Pittsburgh Chapter, Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Shakespeare Festival, Seton Hill University and on the Advisory Board of the Pitt Jazz Seminar. He was also involved in fundraising for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania. An avid golfer, Larry was on the Board and an active member of the Oakmont Country Club as well as a member of the Duquesne Club. Family will receive friends on Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. and Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the SCHELLHAAS FUNERAL HOME, Rt. 910, 1600 Stone Mansion Drive, Sewickley, PA 15143. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, June 6, 2014, at 10 a.m. at St. John Neumann Church, 2230 Rochester Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237. A private interment will take place in Calvary Cemetery in Freedom, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Larry Werner Memorial Fund, c/o The Pittsburgh Foundation, Five PPG Place, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, (https://community. pittsburghfoundation.org/werner). The fund will be used to help disadvantaged cancer patients make ends meet. Please pay tribute at:
www.schellhaasfh.com
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