Lawrence J. Fedewa

Lawrence J. ("Larry") Fedewa passed away peacefully on October 29, 2025, in Manassas, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C., at age 87. He valiantly fought a battle with cancer for five years and was just two days short of his 88th birthday. Larry was born on October 31, 1937, in Lansing, Michigan to Norman A. and Agnes G. (Murphy) Fedewa. Born on Halloween, his mother joked that she was never sure if he was "a trick or a treat" – but she, and all who knew him, knew it was the latter. The eldest son of Norman and Agnes, with two younger brothers (Stanley C. and Phillp C., both now deceased) and a younger sister (Madonna J.), Larry enjoyed a full life as a husband to his beloved wife Theresa, and as a father, grandfather, teacher, academic, technology executive, entrepreneur, poet, writer, television and radio broadcaster, horseman, and singer. The career and life Larry built is very different from the career he envisioned throughout his nine years in a Catholic seminary (Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit Michigan, 1950-1959), where he was preparing to become a priest. The trajectory of his life was changed by events and stops along the way. That is the story told in his memoir, "Inside: The Early Years, A Young Catholic's Search for His Place in the Sun." Following a life-changing trip to Europe, he found himself in Denver, Colorado, where he taught at St. Regis High School, among his other jobs. There, he met his wife, Theresa K. Goeser, on a blind date on Thanksgiving 1961. It was love at first sight, with an engagement soon thereafter, and wedding at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, in August 1962. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this year. Soon after, they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin so Larry could work on his doctorate in philosophy and social psychology from Marquette University (1969). The family then moved from Milwaukee to Green Bay when Larry became a young professor, popular among the student body and faculty alike at St. Norbert College. He was the youngest professor to attain tenure in the history of the college at that time. This was during the era of the great coach, Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers, sparking a lifelong passion not only for Larry, but the rest of family. Lombardi's inspiring leadership of the franchise augmented Larry's own belief in the power of persistence: "Never give up, no matter what." In 1972, Larry's academic career eventually took him to become Dean and Provost of Park College in Parkville, Missouri. He then initiated the Portfolio Plan for bachelor's degree completion, which provided a system for utilizing work experience, training courses, and other relevant accomplishments in an undergraduate degree program at Park College Crown Center in Kansas City, Kansas and served as its first president. In 1976, he was recruited by Control Data Corporation to help introduce the first major computer-assisted education system in the world and became an international expert in educational technology. Later, he co-founded an institute for computer programmers and consultants in the Philippines, serving Hong Kong and all the ASEAN countries. This career move brought Larry and the family to the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area. As an entrepreneur, he then founded and headed federal contracting firms for over 20 years. Larry founded the Washington Institute of Technology, where he was President and Chairman of the Board. He also participated in a joint venture with the National Education Association, and two joint ventures with Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. In all, he founded or co-founded more than 20 organizations, beginning in high school, including companies, institutes, a college, joint ventures in real estate and publishing, and nonprofit organizations. In 1995, Larry rediscovered his love of Arabian horses, nature, and the woods, which he had enjoyed as a youth on the farm and as a college-aged riding instructor at Camp Sancta Maria in Northern Michigan. This renewed passion had a major impact on his life, including a move to a horse farm in Clifton, Virginia; riding adventures with his daughter, and the establishment of a nonprofit providing equine therapy to address veteran suicide. In 2012, Larry began writing about political and social issues for the Washington Times and was a frequent guest on radio and television. Eventually he hosted his own radio program, "The Dr. Larry Show," from 2017-2023. In 2023, he became a senior fellow at Frontiers of Freedom Institute in Washington, D.C. A prolific reader and writer, he wrote two books (Amazon) and over 500 columns (Washington Times, Richfield Press), including "Howdy, Mr. Pope" on May 19, 2025, on the prospect of world peace with Pope Leo XIV. With his powerful three-octave vocal range and baritone voice, Larry was a radio announcer in his early career, and a lector and soloist at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in Clifton, VA (1997-2019). A philosopher, poet and teacher at heart, his life had a big impact on his family, many friends, colleagues, clients, students, and employees. Larry was most proud of his family. From him, they have inherited his strong sense of loyalty, determination, work ethic, and sense of humor -- and his love of parties full of friends and colleagues, convertibles, and collie dogs, to name just a few. The fortunate ones have also inherited his dimples, while others are the recipients of poems in their honor. Surviving Larry are his wife Theresa K. G. Fedewa and daughter Kirsten A. Fedewa, sons Eric C. (Ritika N.) Fedewa and L. John (Nirali D. Patel) Fedewa, Jr., granddaughters Lillianna N., Tessa N., Anjali N., and Ella N. Fedewa, sister Madonna J. Fedewa, sister-in-law Marilyn H. Fedewa, brother-in-law Edward J. (Marilyn B.) Goeser, brother-in-law John P. Goeser, sister-in-law Alice A. Goeser, sister-in-law Janet M. Goeser, brother-in-law Larry N. Goeser, sister-in-law Debbie J. Goeser, as well as a host of loving nieces and nephews, Fedewa, Goeser, and Murphy relatives, and friends. The family will receive friends at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, 9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax VA 22032 on Monday, November 24, 2025, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, 12409 Henderson Road, Clifton VA 20124 on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 11 a.m. There will be a brief interment following the Mass at the Place of Peace Columbarium, Benedictine Sisters of Virginia, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow VA 20136. All are welcome. The family is in the process of selecting a memorial charity; details regarding the chosen organization will be provided at a later date. https://www.fairfaxmemorialfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Lawrence-John-Fedewa-Sr-Phd?obId=46283047 Please sign the Guestbook at www.legacy.com/washingtontimes