Richard Patrick Lawlor

Richard Patrick Lawlor, 88, of Washington, DC, passed away on February 28, 2024. Born in Queens, New York to loving parents the late David and Margaret (Callan) Lawlor, Richard, affectionately known as Dick, was the beloved husband of Mary Ann (Vorndran) Lawlor for 62 years.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons Jonathan and Matthew, and their respective wives Judith and Ann-Marie, and his adoring grandchildren Benjamin, Teresa, and Amelia. He also leaves behind his brothers David and Donald, and nieces and nephews Scott Lawlor, Stacy Lampman, Todd Lawlor, Kim Jacobs, Vaughn Hastings, Kathryn Vorndran, Susan Hosler, Bert Wolff, Janet Wolff, Nanci Lynch, Robin Espinoza, and Christopher Wolff.

Raised in Elmhurst, Dick graduated from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in 1953, Manhattan College in 1957, and St. John’s University School of Law in 1960. He subsequently received an LLM degree from New York University School of Law. He practiced labor law at Union Carbide Corporation for over 25 years, including as Chief Labor Counsel and Assistant General Counsel, retiring in 1994. Prior to joining Union Carbide, he worked at the National Labor Relations Board in Los Angeles, California and in Washington, DC and at a labor law firm in New York, New York; and was an Instructor in Law at the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, Virginia. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 1960 to 1966.

After marrying in 1961, Dick and Mary Ann lived briefly in California. They subsequently lived twice in each of New York, Connecticut, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Throughout it all, as Dick pursued his own career, he proudly supported Mary Ann in her own business career and charitable interests. They were avid travelers, and especially enjoyed taking vacations with their children and grandchildren. A talented visual artist in his own right, Dick loved all the arts, including plays, museums, and music, but, most especially, the dramatic and musical performances of his grandchildren. A sports fanatic, the New York Rangers hockey and the old New York Giants baseball teams were among his particular favorites.

He served as the President of the Parish Council in the 1970s at St. Saviour Church in Brooklyn, New York, and supported over the years many other parishes, including St. Ignatius Loyola in New York, New York, and, most recently, Our Lady of Victory in Washington, DC. He also served on the Board of Trustees for the Berkeley-Carroll Street School, in Brooklyn, New York, where his sons attended elementary school. He was an ardent supporter of the education of his grandchildren, of whom he was tremendously proud.

Special Thanks: The staff at Grand Oaks Assisted Living and the staff at collectively, Medstar’s Georgetown University Hospital, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington Hospital Center, and Accent Care.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on March 14, at 11:30 am, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 4835 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, DC 20007. There will be a visitation on March 13, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, as well as a visitation at the church on March 14, from 10:00 to 11:30 am prior to the funeral. Burial will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Dick’s memory to the Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org) or to St. John’s University (www.stjohns.edu).