Lawrence was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on September 2nd, 1973 but grew up in the Seattle, Washington area after moving there with family at the age of two. Always a happy child and a bit shy, he loved adventure from an early age. Growing up he delivered newspapers for the Seattle Times, played football and skateboarded even building a jumping ramp in the driveway. He was also a game counselor for Nintendo at their headquarters in Redmond, WA. He attended Sammamish High School - Bellevue School District and graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University, Pullman in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, International Business. He was the recipient of the “Most Outstanding Undergraduate in International Business” award and the Golden Key International Honor. During his university years he was an exchange student in international studies attending Kansai Gaidai University, Osaka, Japan for two years and was awarded the AIEJ Scholarship from the government of Japan. It was in Osaka that he met his future wife Naoko, who was an international student advisor at Kansai Gaidai University at that time.
After graduation Lawrence began his career in logistics at MOL Logistics, Inc., a Japan based logistics company in South San Francisco, in sales and operations. In 2001 he went to work as an Account Executive for the Hanjin Shipping Company and then on to Apex Maritime Co., Inc. as an Account Manager. In 2005 he joined the team at Cosco Container Lines Americas, Inc. as a District Sales Manager. He was hired by the Port of Oakland in 2008 as Manager, Business Development and International Marketing. In 2013, he joined GlobeRunners, Inc. in Roseville, CA as Director of Imports, where he felt a part of a family. He loved the outdoors and wanted a more rural lifestyle finding the perfect acreage for himself and his family located in Granite Bay. Wishing to travel less and be able to spend more time with his son, they made the move to Placer County enabling him to take an active role in Will’s daily life.
Lawrence touched many lives over the years and will be greatly missed by those who knew him. He loved life and a good philosophical conversation that could go on for hours if you were so inclined. He made time for family and friends and was always there with a tease and a loving laugh. He very much enjoyed spending time with his son whether in quiet conversation or supporting him academically and while he played baseball and basketball. He was an assistant coach for Lakeside Little League and parent coach for the local Next Level flag football program and boys team charity Granite Bay League. He was a huge Seattle Seahawk fan and looked forward every year to football season and was a season ticket holder of the Sacramento River Cats. He also enjoyed road racing his vintage Volkswagen Rabbit with the Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA). He was a member of the Granite Bay Golf Club.
Lawrence is survived by his wife of twenty years, Naoko, son William, mother Carol Sue St. Jean, father Kenneth Dunnigan and wife Victorina, father and mother in-law, Kazuo Yoshida and Sachiko Yoshida, sisters Susan Dawson and family, Grace Dunnigan, Kimberly Knight and family and many other relatives and friends. The family would like to thank all his wonderful friends for their love, compassion and support during this time of loss. Lawrence was a kind, loving and gentle soul in tune with nature and our hearts break to have to say goodbye so soon.
A celebration of life in loving memory of
H. LAWRENCE DUNNIGAN
Sunday, September 26 at 2:00 PM
Lake Park
8699 Country Creek Drive, Orangevale, CA 95662
Online Attendance:
Lawrence Dunnigan's Celebration of Life
Time: Sep 26, 2021 02:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://lrccd.zoom.us/j/95116661963
Meeting ID: 951 1666 1963
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