Larry John Laurinatis, 80, of Vandergrift, died on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, in Forbes Regional Hospital, Monroeville, after a short illness.

He was born March 8, 1942 in Gilpin Township, a son of the late John and Mary (Kapuchuck) Laurinatis.

A 1960 graduate of Leechburg High School, Larry attended Indiana State College where he was an art and math major and a member of the college football team.  He joined the U.S. Army serving in the intervention forces in the Dominican Republic in the mid-1960s.  Larry retired from Allegheny Ludlum Steel in 2002 after 34 years of service.

Always a sports fan, Larry loved the game of baseball, playing on the first official Little League team in the Leechburg area in the early 1950s and Pony League teams in that era.  As an adult, he volunteered as a coach to youth baseball, football and ice hockey teams in the area.  He was a long-time Pittsburgh Pirates fan and supporting member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.  He was also a member of the VFW Post 566 in Vandergrift (where he served two terms as Commander), and the American Legion in Vandergrift.  Larry was a retired member of the Veterans Honor Guard.

Larry was also a member of the Elks Lodge in Leechburg, Victorian Vandergrift Museum and Historical Society in Vandergrift and North Carolina Beach Buggy Association.  During the mid-1980s, Larry served as First Ward Councilman on Vandergrift Borough Council.  Larry was an avid coin and baseball card collector.  He enjoyed traveling, especially to the Outer Banks. 

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Judith Laurinatis, whom he married on Oct. 25, 1968; their son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Judy Laurinatis of Wake Forest, NC; their daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Justyn Nathan of Forest Hills; beloved grandson, Lukas Laurinatis; his brother, Andrew Laurinatis of Leechburg; niece, Jeanne (John) Murtha of Greensburg; and sister-in-law, Carol Wetovich of Annapolis, MD.  He also leaves his favorite orange tabby, Rusty.

Friends will be welcomed by his family on Monday, October 24, 2022 from 12 p.m. until the time of funeral ceremonies beginning at 3 p.m. at the Clawson Funeral & Cremation Center, 170 Main St., Leechburg, 724-842-1051.  Private interment will be held at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgeville.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Larry may be made to the Humane Animal Rescue, 6926 Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15208; or to the animal shelter of the donor’s choice.