Larry W. McLaughlin

Larry W. McLaughlin died peacefully at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock medical center on November 9 th in Lebanon, NH at the age of 73. Larry was born on October 27 th , 1950 in Seattle, WA to parents Wendell Lloyd and Mildred Elizabeth McLaughlin (Rietz). He graduated from the University of California at Riverside in 1972 with a degree in chemistry, and in 1979 from the University of Alberta with a doctorate in biochemistry. He married Jean Leask Franklin, a teacher, in 1972. After moving to Göttingen, Germany he began working at the Max Plank Institute for six years where the couple welcomed two children into their home. In 1985 he started a position as Professor of Chemistry at Boston College where he remained until his retirement in 2019. His children remember him as a patient teacher who always supported them in pursuing their goals. He was an accomplished skier on water and snow, and often renovated his home himself. He was a passionate teacher of chemistry and managed a research group at Boston College for over 30 years. During that time, he graduated many PhDs and postdoctoral students, in addition to publishing his research in numerous scientific journals. Additionally, he volunteered his time at public schools to try and increase interest in STEM careers.

Larry is predeceased by his parents Wendell and Mildred of Seattle, WA. Surviving family members include his wife of more than 50 years Jean (known as Frankie), children Martin and Mareika, grandchildren Christian and Samantha, and siblings Sandra, Gary, Scott, and Kevin, and uncle Jack Rietz. 

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org).