Paul R. Larkin, Jr.

Paul R. Larkin, Jr. was born May 21, 1929 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the first child of Paul R. Larkin, Sr. and Dorothy Jane DuFour Larkin. The family moved to Pelham, NY shortly after his birth. Paul attended Pelham public schools, graduating from Pelham High School in 1947. At Holy Cross College, (Worcester, MA) Paul continued his academic success, making the Dean's List all 4 years and graduating with honors in 1951. Paul then went to Harvard Law School where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in June 1954, Paul attended the Navy Officers Training School in Newport, RI. During his last year at Harvard Law School, he met Carole Henderson, the daughter of Frank and Mabel Henderson of Belmont, MA. After Paul finished OTS, Paul and Carole were married December 16, 1954 in Newport, RI. Paul was assigned to the Navy Judge Advocate General's division in Pensacola, Florida where they lived for the next four years. Since the Navy wanted Paul to be able to work in the Florida civil courts, should the need arise, the Navy had Paul take the Florida bar exam in which he passed. Passing the Florida Bar exam was quite an accomplishment for an "out-of-stater". This was also quite fortuitous, since he did not have enough time after graduating from Harvard Law School and going right into the Navy, to take the New York State bar exam. When his tour of duty with the Navy was over in 1958, and he was only licensed to practice civil law in Florida. Paul worked for Blackwell, Walker & Gray in Miami. Paul was a trial lawyer, defending hospitals and doctors against medical malpractice and wrongful death suits. After 37 years with Blackwell, Walker and Gray, Paul was asked to join Conrad & Scherer (of Ft. Lauderdale) due to his expertise.   Although he was 66 years old and eligible “to retire,” he declined retirement and joined the firm and plunged right into their cases. He continued to handle these cases for Conrad & Scherer until he finally retired at 90 years of age. Carole, his wife of 45 years, lost her battle with cancer in the year 2000. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted children, Caryn (Michael) Newborn of Charlotte, NC.; Paul N. Larkin of Fort Lauderdale, FL. and Eileen (Brian)Martin of Charlotte, NC.; four grandchildren, Melissa (Philip)Poole, Michael (Molly)Newborn, Ashely Mitchell (Charles) and Gregory, five great grand-children, and his significant other, Rosalie Parente and her loving family in Canada.  Paul was a gentleman, he will be remembered by all as a “man of great integrity” who fought for the truth and always looked for “what is right”. His unwavering sense of duty and his strong “moral compass” symbolized who he was. He followed current events, politics, sports, especially the Miami Dolphins with great enthusiasm. Paul had a significant love for nature and a lifelong love of the beach. Strong in mind and body, he was the picture of humility. He loved his family more than anything. 

A funeral Mass will be held at 12PM (noon) Friday, March 25, 2022 at St Pius X Catholic Church, 2500 NE 33rd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale followed by burial at Fred Hunters Hollywood Memorial Gardens

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Holy Cross College ( https://www.holycross.edu ) and Harvard and Sierra Club and Salesian Missions (https://www.imis-salesianmissions.org/imis/SALdonate ).