Obituary of Lawrence Lo Presti

Peacefully in Toronto on Thursday, September 6, 2018 in his 75th year.  Loving and devoted son of Tony and Frances; husband to Kathy; father to Janine (John); brother to Nick (Gloria); brother-in-law to Marilyn (Peter); uncle to Anthony (Kate), Frances (Colin), Margery (Mike), Debbie (Jim) and Corinne; great-uncle to Nicole (Aaron), Michelle (Andrew), Kristin and Bryan, Cameron, Kieran and Kai, Mackenzie and Ryan, and Evelyn and Nicholas.  He will be sadly missed by many cousins and friends.

Larry is most commonly described as honest and trustworthy, loyal to a fault, and the life of the party!  Friends and family call him “Larry the Legend.”  During his last few days, Larry fought the good fight in Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre – and, in the end, he drifted away peacefully after saying he had “75 years of fun.”  It is heartbreaking to lose him, but comforting that he did not suffer for long. His family wishes to thank Toronto Paramedics Rob and Chris, Dr. Steven Shadowitz, Dr. Alexei Savtchenko and all other doctors, nurses and staff at Sunnybrook for their remarkable care and kindness.

Larry was a true gentleman, a protector and provider, and extremely kind and generous.  His happiness stemmed from working hard every day to give those he loved the best he could, without ever looking for recognition.  When his father passed away at a young age, Larry became the man of the household and devoted his life to looking after his mother for the next 42 years.  He had a strong sense of community and faith, anchored by his deep roots in St. Anselm’s Parish and Leaside, where he lived for most of his life. Larry had a successful career in the produce and horse racing business, and later as a restaurateur.  While he called himself an amateur chef, he was in fact a culinary master.  He never thought of himself as creative or artistic, but his cuisines were works of art.  However, his talents did not stop in the kitchen.  He was the ultimate prankster, with a contagious laugh enjoyed by his friends and family.  As well, Larry was a Jack of all trades with extraordinary wisdom; his advice and counsel will be missed, but his legacy will carry on. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 14th at 11:00 a.m. in St. Anselm Catholic Church, 1 MacNaughton Road at Millwood Road.  Interment to follow in Mount Hope Cemetery followed by a reception in the Rosedale Room of the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Larry’s memory may be made to the General Internal Medicine Division at Sunnybrook Hospital, c/o Dr. Steven Shadowitz, 2075 Bayview Avenue, C-Wing, 4th floor, Room C4 10, Toronto M4N 3M5.  Condolences, photographs and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com. 

Rest in peace, Larry the Legend.  You made the world a better place.  Know that we love you and we will hold you in our heart always – and after our weekly family dinners, we will continue our dance party tradition to your favourite song, Blueberry Hill.  Though we’re apart, you’re part of us still, for you were our thrill of a lifetime.