In Memory of Lawrence “Larry” Smith Jr. ’81
LAWRENCE L. SMITH JR. ’81 of McLean, Virginia, died Sept. 28, 2021. At Ripon, he was an All-American wrestler and a member of Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega. He also wrestled at Ball State University. He worked for Brooks Brothers and Cuffs in Washington, D.C., and the family business, Rodes Clothing, in Columbus, Indiana, and Louisville, Kentucky. In the Washington, D.C., area, he coached for the Capital Area Wrestling League where he cultivated several champions including his son, Trey, and Olympic Gold Medalist Helen Maroulis. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited, an avid hunter, and especially enjoyed training Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Survivors include his wife, Nicole; and one son.
Full obituary:
McLean, VA. – Louisville – Lawrence (“Larry”) Lithgow Smith, Jr. passed away peacefully on September 28th in the presence of his loving wife and son.
Larry was born on September 24, 1959 in Louisville, Kentucky.
He was an All American athlete at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where he won a State Championship. He went on to achieve national recognition as a collegiate All American wrestler at Ripon College and Ball State University.
Early in his professional career, Larry moved to Washington DC to work for Brooks Brothers and Cuffs. It was there he met Nicole Atkinson, his future wife and the love of his life. Larry and Nicole married in 1985 at St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square in Washington DC.
Larry and Nicole moved to Columbus, Indiana where he joined the family business, Rodes Clothing, as the general manager of the company’s Columbus store.
In the spring of 1989, Larry and Nicole moved to Louisville where he assumed the role of men’s clothing buyer and merchandise manager for Rodes. Later that summer, the couple welcomed the birth of their son, Lawrence (“Trey”) Lithgow Smith, III.
In the mid 1990’s, the family moved to Washington, DC to support Nicole’s dream of becoming an attorney. In 1997, Nicole graduated from Georgetown University Law Center with Larry and Trey proudly by her side.
The family settled down in the D.C. area where Larry continued to be a pillar of support to Nicole as her law career started and blossomed. Nicole never hesitates to credit Larry’s selflessness and dedication to her and Trey as the reason she was able to pursue and realize her professional dreams.
Larry went on to coach for the Capital Area Wrestling League where he cultivated several champions including his son, Trey, and Olympic Gold Medalist Helen Maroulis.
He was a member of Ducks Unlimited, an avid hunter, and especially enjoyed training his beloved Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.
Larry loved being known in the neighborhood as the house that handed out full sized candy bars on Halloween, a fourteen thousand bulb Christmas light display, and fireworks for every occasion.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents Jane Ulferts Smith, and Lawrence Lithgow Smith, Sr., and his grandparents, Mary and Ray Ulferts, and Hanford and Elizabeth Smith.
In addition to his wife and son, Larry is survived by his sister, Susan Vogt, brother-in-law, Howard Vogt, and their son Howie Vogt, as well as beloved cousins, aunts, uncles and family and friends across the country.
Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday at St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church 6710 Wolf Pen Branch Road (at US Hwy 42). The funeral will be lived-streamed at SFITF.org/smith for those who can not attend in person. Burial to follow in Cave Hill Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Pearson’s.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in Larry’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of his mother, Jane Ulferts Smith.