CITY OF TONAWANDA — Lawrence "Larry" M. O'Connor, age 80, of the City of Tonawanda, Thursday, February 7, 2013, at the McAuley Residence. Born in Wilmington, DE, he had been a resident of Tonawanda for more than 50 years and was a US Army veteran serving during the Korean War. Larry was a 1949 graduate of St. Joe's Collegiate Institute where he was a Signum Fidei recipient and a 1953 graduate of Canisius College, a basketball Hall of Famer. He was also drafted by the NY Knickerbockers in 1953. Larry coached the Shamrock's women's softball and basketball teams in WNY for 42 years, leading them to several Regional Championships and National Tournaments. He also coached the Empire State Western Region Women's Softball Team to numerous gold medals and was inducted into the WNY Softball Hall of Fame. Larry was founder and president of Business Forms           Consultants in Amherst, retiring in 1988. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish and a Life Member of the Eldredge Club. Larry was an avid tennis player and golfer, recording a hole-in-one (before Dennis). He was also a "huge" New York Yankees fan.

He was a devoted husband of 59 years of Doris Ann (nee Deinhart) O'Connor, an inspirational father of Michael (Colleen) O'Connor and Terry Douglas of Tonawanda, Colleen (Dennis) Gasbarro of Grand Island, Kevin (Tami) O'Connor and Sharon Bidell of Tonawanda, and John O'Connor of Vermont; beloved grandfather of 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and was adored by all dogs everywhere. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 1-3 PM and 5-7 PM at John O. Roth Funeral Home, Inc., 25 William St. (between Morgan & Broad Sts.), in Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM Monday in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 150 Broad St., in Tonawanda. The Rev. Michael Uebler will officiate. A private entombment will be in St. Francis Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Assn. of WNY, 5140 Main St., Suite 303-154, Williamsville, NY 14221; or to the Erie County SPCA.

Visit www.tonawanda-news.com/obituaries for online guest register.