Lawrence Anthony Fawcett

East Lyme - Lawrence Anthony Fawcett, 71, of 4 Flanders Road, Niantic, died Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, surrounded by his family.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 21, 1939, the son of Lawrence D. Fawcett and Louise (Speranzo) Fawcett.

He married Lois Gruby Fawcett on March 2, 1966, in Manchester. She survives him.

Mr. Fawcett served in the U.S. Army. He retired from the Coventry Police Department in 1994 as a lieutenant; a job he loved. He was respected by the town citizens whom he worked for and by the men in blue he worked with or came in contact with. He started the Coventry Canine Unit; his first partner was Ned and later Mark. He was also active in scouting, starting the Police Explorers. His other passion was UFO Investigation. This culminated finally in a book, "Clear Intent, the UFO Cover-up."

In addition to his spouse, he is survived by his sons, Dexter Fawcett and his wife, Tracy, of Augusta, Maine, Kirk Fawcett and his wife, Josephine, and Lawrence Fawcett and his wife, Sue, all of New York City; four daughters, Louise Fawcett of New York City, Evelyn Legace of Winsted, Valerie Peart and her husband, Wilbert, of Livermore Falls, Maine, and Rhonda Fawcett and fiancé, Ronald Polen, of Waterford. He is also survived by two brothers, Richard Fawcett and his wife, Charlene, and Robert Fawcett and his wife, Nidia, all of Brooklyn, N.Y.; 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; as well as special friends, Shamus and Minnie who have stayed with him throughout his long illness.

He was predeceased by his sister, Margaret Paratore.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. Interment will follow in Jordan Cemetery, Waterford. Calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Please visit www.neilanfuneralhome.com for directions, to view Mr. Fawcett's video tribute, or to send a condolence message to his family.