Lawrence Robert Sullivan

Lawrence Robert Sullivan obituary, Frederick, MD

Lawrence Robert Sullivan

Lawrence Sullivan Obituary

Visit the Keeney & Basford Funeral Homes, P.A. website to view the full obituary.
Lawrence Robert Sullivan (Larry) was born November 5, 1934, in Erie, Pennsylvania, the sixth of eight children born to Francis Michael Sullivan and Elizabeth Dahn Sullivan. He passed away peacefully on December 5, 2024, at the age of 91.

Larry is survived by his wife of 62 years, Louise; son Robert (Lisa); daughter Anne (Carter Raines); beloved grandchildren Ella, Quinn, and Corinne Sullivan, and Sydney and Elliott Raines; and cherished nieces and nephews. He was the last surviving of his eight siblings, having been preceded in death by his five brothers and two sisters, all of whom he loved dearly.

After graduating from Academy High School in Erie, Larry enlisted in the U.S. Army. Upon his discharge in 1956, he enrolled at Penn State University, where he earned his degree in Economics and Accounting. He then moved to Washington, D.C., where he became a Certified Public Accountant and, while working, attended law school at night at George Washington University. He earned his law degree and was admitted to the Bar in both Maryland and D.C.

Larry built a career with the U.S. GAO (then the Government Accounting Office). At GAO, he served as Director of Fraud Prevention Audits, where he audited numerous government programs and notably contributed to the Watergate Investigation. He later worked with the Office of Federal Elections before establishing a private law practice following his retirement from government service.

Growing up in a lively household with his brothers and sisters, Larry developed a lifelong love of sports, playing baseball, basketball, and football with his brothers, along with countless competitive ping-pong matches. He was an avid tennis player and cherished the friendships he made with his Goshen Estates neighbors. Larry found joy in ski trips, camping adventures in the family pop-tent camper, and walks along the C&O Canal. A voracious reader with interests in history and art, he and Louise loved their travels abroad and exploring new places with their family.

Above all, Larry treasured spending time with his children and, later, his grandchildren. Some of his happiest moments were spent during family weeks at Duck on North Carolina's Outer Banks, where he delighted in diving in the waves. For close to 40 years, Larry and his family made their home in Gaithersburg before moving to Frederick in 2013.

Larry never missed a sunset if he could help it, particularly from his favorite vantage point in Duck overlooking the Currituck Sound. He approached each evening's display with the enthusiasm of someone who had discovered them for the first time, yet with the expertise of someone who had seen thousands. "You have got to see this one," he would call out, declaring what he often deemed the "best one yet" - a title he awarded generously and frequently.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Keeney & Basford Funeral Homes, P.A.

106 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701

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