Obituary of Lawrence "Larry" L. Donhoffner

Lawrence L. Donhoffner, age 75, passed away on Friday, October 4, 2024, at Lahey Hospital, with his loving family by his side. He was the beloved husband of Eileen (Rounds) Donhoffner. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, he was a son of the late Lawrence DePalma and the late Helen Donhoffner.

The Down Syndrome community has lost a true hero. Larry was a pioneer in helping his son Larry Jr. and others with Downs Syndrome. He loved his family dearly and they were his number one priority. He loved his wife Eileen, his son Larry Jr., his daughter Mary and her partner Ben, his son Tony and his wife Sheena, his grandchildren Willie, Anthony Jr., Keera, and Eddie, as well as his sister Theresa Smith of Camphill, PA - her late husband Rick, his niece Julie and her daughters, his nephew Scott and his wife Carolyn and their children, Ricky Smith and his wife Mary and their daughter. He had a great fondness for his brothers-in-law Irv and Anthony Rounds. He and his wife Eileen lovingly took care of his dear mother-in-law, Mary Ellen Rounds for three years at-home and now he is with her in heaven. His love for his children, grandchildren and entire family was evident in every aspect of his life. He had a great fondness for his work friends at Gentest and his dear friends Roberta, Suzy, Brenda, Anne M his great neighbor, friends Lyn, Dave, Lynn L and Rob and other fellow campers at Wakeda Campground. He knew and cared about many others, such as Larry Jr.’s caregiver Lourdes and Larry Jr.’s friends Michele, Becky, and John C. 

Larry and his wife Eileen shared a love that endured for nearly 46 years. In their later years, Eileen, a nurse, became his devoted caregiver, providing unwavering support but sometimes he’d jokingly call her Nurse Ratched. He worked hard when returning home after several hospitalizations with his home care team, including physical and occupational therapists. He demonstrated remarkable resilience in overcoming numerous health challenges. Larry's love for his wife extended to supporting her interests, even if it meant stepping outside his comfort zone. He accompanied her to the beach, trips to Florida and California, went out with her to local places like Good Night Johnnies, despite his preference for staying at home

Larry's commitment to education was evident throughout his life. He graduated from Churchill High school in PA. He returned to school to complete his college degrees while raising his young son, Larry Jr. He graduated from Bunker Hill Community College and went on to earn a BS in Biology from UMass Boston. Larry even started working on his master’s degree at Northeastern. Larry's dedication and expertise earned him the nickname "Mr. Fix-it" among his colleagues, who relied on his ability to keep the labs running smoothly. A dedicated scientist, Larry worked at Gentest, where he excelled not only in his scientific work but also in facilities management. He found great joy in spending time outdoors, whether it was camping at Hampton Falls or tending to his backyard garden. Larry had a deep appreciation for nature and was particularly fond of chipmunks and squirrels in recent years. Prior to that, he cherished his beloved cats and dogs, who are now with him in heaven.

Larry had a lifelong passion for scouting, sharing his love of camping with his children. He played a pivotal role in helping his son Tony achieve the prestigious Eagle Scout award and was immensely proud of his daughter's Gold Award in Girl Scouting. He was also extremely proud of his daughter obtaining her PhD and was there while she presented and defended her thesis. Larry also was extremely proud of his son Tony earning his Chemistry Bachelor's degree and being an awesome dad to his kids. He was Larry Jr.’s biggest cheerleader when he entered ballroom dance competitions and when his son won several first-place finishes, Larry Sr. was taking videos and beaming with pride. He loved seeing Larry Jr. taking lessons with Fitz or Kelly of Kadanse.

Larry’s hobbies included gardening and model railroading, which he pursued with passion. He had a realistic train layout that he designed based on his Pennsylvania roots in the basement, which he loved working on. He was a culinary adventurer, cooking various cuisines like Indian vindaloo and Polish kielbasa. Larry wasn't a fan of his wife's television choices, but on occasion would watch the Golden Bachelorette with her. His favorite shows were English movies, detective stories, historical dramas, House, Greys Anatomy, and the series 6 Feet Under. He embraced adventure and excitement, even trying daring activities like motorcycling and sailing when he turned 50. In his earlier years, he cycled to work. 

In his free time, Larry loved to keep his mind active. He enjoyed learning as much as he could from any science books that he could get his hands on. He loved crossword puzzles and figuring out all things electronic or mechanical. He was quite proficient at selling on eBay too. He loved fixing the family home, completing many projects over the years. He shared this with his children, teaching them how to build and fix things, too. For instance, was very proud of building a shed from scratch with his son Tony. He also enjoyed the simple things in life, like a good cup of black coffee or a diet coke with no ice. His family and his animals were the most important things in his life; but the Pittsburgh Steelers were a very close second. Being a terrible towel owner was something Larry took great pride in, and he always looked forward to watching his team play on Sundays. He had a dry quick wit to say the least. He was friendly and enjoyed striking up a lively conversation even with people he just met.

Larry's unwavering determination always saw him through many of life's challenges. His legacy will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him. We will miss him dearly. The life lessons he taught us will be imprinted in his family's hearts and minds. We will especially remember him reminding us in challenging times to “Stay Strong”. 

A Funeral Mass will be held for Larry on Tuesday, October 8th at 12 pm at St. Malachy Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington, MA, with a reception to follow. His green burial will take place October 9th at 11am, at Cedar Brook Burial Ground, Limington, ME.