Lawrence J. KLECATSKY M.D.

1941 - 2018

Husband, Father, Grand father, Brother, Life-long Rower, World Medalist, Olympian, and Emergency Medical Physician Age 77, of Myrtle Beach, SC. Passed away unexpectedly on December 13, 2018 at his winter home in Sarasota, FL. Survived by his loving wife Susan, Myrtle Beach SC; sons Brian Klecatsky, Norwalk, CT, Benjamin (Amy) Fertig, Naperville, IL and Jeffrey (Sarka) Klecatsky, Coopersburg, PA; and three grand daughters—Kayla, Ashlee and Alexandra. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota to Joseph S. and Ethelyn E. Klecatsky on August 11, 1941, Larry was the oldest of four siblings including Thomas E. (Cynthia), Mendota Heights, Joanne (Mike) Barrett, Woodbury, and Richard N. (Deborah), Rosemount; with many nieces, nephews and their families in the Twin Cities area. Larry graduated from St. Thomas College, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1963 and earned his Medical Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1967. Serving as a Physician and Lieutenant First Class in the U.S. Navy Larry moved to New York City and continued to build his medical career of over 30 years as Director of Emergency Medicine at the Sound Shore Medical Center in New Rochelle, NY who honored him as Physician of the Year in 2000. He retired in 2008. He was also an Associate Medical Professor at the New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY. Larry discovered a lifelong passion for rowing as a teenager. Becoming an elite lightweight sculler he competed for St. Thomas College, the Minnesota Boat Club and later the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) which was close to his longtime home in Pelham Manor, New York. He won more than 800 races, including over fifty U.S. Rowing Championships and over fifty Royal Canadian Henley Championships. He held the course record for the Elite Lightweight Singles at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston for twelve years, and the record for the Grand Masters Singles from 1992-2014. A highlight of his rowing success was competing on the U.S. Olympic Team in the Men's Doubles at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Larry's dedication to training and unyielding competitive drive took him around the world. He competed in the Pan American Games in Mexico City, and eight World Championships including Great Britain (1975), Austria (1976), Netherlands (1977), Slovakia (1979), Belgium (1980 and 1985), Germany (1983), Canada (1984). In 1978 he was inducted into National Rowing Association Hall of Fame and subsequently the New York Athletic Club Hall of Fame in 1989. Traveling to Australia in 1997 he won two gold medals at the FISA Master's World Championship Regatta. Mass of Christian Burial 10 AM Friday, December 21st at the Church of St. John Vianney, 19th Ave. No. at Bromley, South St. Paul. Visitation 4-8 PM Thursday at Klecatsky & Sons Southern Chapel, 414 Marie Ave., South St. Paul; and 1 hour prior to Mass at church. In addition, a Celebration of Life will be hosted in the spring of 2019 at the New York Athletic Club. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made where Larry first discovered his passion for Rowing at The Minnesota Boat Club; 1 South Wabasha Street, St. Paul, MN 55107 651-451-1551