Laurence Irwin Tomar

Laurence “Larry” Tomar, 80, died Friday, March 15, 2024 from complications due to Lewy Body Dementia. His last 13 days were in the care of Authora Hospice Home. Born November 10, 1943, in Camden, New Jersey, Larry was the son of the late Joseph Michael Tomar and Roslyn Frances Tomar. He graduated from Merchantville High School, and then from Rutgers University in New Jersey with an undergraduate degree in history and law degree. He was admitted to the bar in Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and North Carolina. Larry worked as an attorney for 53 years. He was a very talented attorney. A colleague described him as “simply masterful” at cross examinations, using a similar technique to Columbo. He first started law in Trenton, New Jersey as a partner in a law firm, and then started a private practice in Bucks County, Pennsylvania for decades specializing in family law as well as various other legal issues. The last nine years of his career, he was a public defender for the Guilford County Courthouse in North Carolina. In addition, Larry was a researcher at the National Archives in DC, a volunteer for Service to America, a VISTA volunteer, and for the National Democratic committee, as well as Solicitor for the Bucks County Counsel in Pennsylvania for 12 years.

Larry was highly intelligent, self-taught and fluent in Spanish, enabling he and his wife Joanie to travel to multiple Spanish speaking countries where they hung out with the locals, developing many relationships through his ability to speak so fluently. He also tutored others in Spanish. He was an expert in 20th Century history, with a particular interest in World War II. He was an avid and passionate runner for over 50 years, and ran his last race in 2017.

Most important was Larry’s personality. He was a really quirky and complicated guy and lot of fun to be with, and he had the best sense of dry humor. You never knew what to expect from him and the things he did or said always caught you by surprise. For example, every night what put him to sleep was inventing an imaginary alien planet. He loved the Marx brothers and Monty python so much so that he memorized the entire screenplay of “The Holy Grail”, as well as many skits, and would act them out. He was known by everyone as “The Absent-minded Professor,” which showed his forgetfulness, evidenced by his legal assistants many times calling him in his car on the way of court because he left his briefcase in the parking lot of his office. He wasn’t religious, and repeatedly joked about “no reference to the deity” at his funeral.

Larry was very much loved by his family and friends. And he kept relationships going throughout his entire life. He was loyal to everyone and seemed to accept people for who they were, no matter who they were. He loved hanging with his Starbucks buddies just to be silly with them and also to discuss politics. He kept in touch with friends all the way from childhood. He met with his college friends and his friend from summer camp once a week on Zoom. But the most important people in his life were always his family, which was very large and blended. He didn’t care. He loved us all, no matter what.

THOSE OF US WHO LOVE HIM AND MISS HIM

Joanie Tomar, Second Wife who loved him the most

Jeanne Tomar, First Wife of and Continued Friend

Reuben Tomar, Son

Sarah Scott, Daughter and Husband Jack Scott

Chris Cherubini, Son

Nora Cherubini, Daughter and Husband Wes Utley

Cecilia Cherubini, Granddaughter and Wife Lily Cherubini

Jordan Utley, Grandson

Adrienne Swayne, Granddaughter

Nate Scott, Grandson

Baylor Utley, Granddaughter

Leon Cherubini, Grandson

Henry Scott, Grandson

Howard Tomar, Brother and Wife Judy Smith, Sister-in-law

And many extended Family

Many extended wonderful lifetime friends including Bernie Eisenfeld, Steve Kornhauser, Steve Apell., Jerry Balaban, Burton Brevda, Ken Harris, Bob Pitts, andEric Crouse.

Many close colleagues, including Tony Loscalzo, Tom Gumbar, Kevin Dowling, and Jerry Kaminsky, Larry’s First Law Partner

Finally, Larry’s dear Spanish Tutor and family friend, for years, Dorothy Potter Snyder

Family and friends are invited to a party in honor of Larry at the home of Wes Utley and Nora Cherubini in Greensboro, NC on June 8, 2024 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

We want to acknowledge two supports. We are requesting no flowers but rather would appreciate donations to Authora Hospice of Greensboro and Burlington, NC, https://www.authoracare.org, who took such exceptional care of Larry and worked diligently for him and our family and friends and were our lifeline. Also, we want to acknowledge the kindness and support more than we knew we needed from Jewish Family Services of Greensboro https://www.jfsgreensboro.org who supported us through the last years of his illness.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com