Lawrence David Tornek

Tornek, Lawrence David, 85, of Coconut Grove, FL., passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on September 30, 2025. A devoted husband, father, grandfather and uncle, Larry left an indelible impression on everyone he met. He could walk into a room full of strangers, and leave with countless new friends. Larry’s genuine concern for his fellow man and unshakable loyalty made him the person that everyone could count on. There was no one more trusted, no one more respected.

Born to parents Gertrude and Allen Tornek in Brooklyn, New York on January 28, 1940, Larry welcomed his brother and lifelong best friend, Terry, in 1946, completing the family. Larry was raised in Brooklyn and attended Yeshiva of Flatbush, where he flaunted Kashrut rules by once bringing a caviar sandwich to school, and then later staging a (successful) rebellion to remove Yiddish from the core curriculum. He then moved to Erasmus High School where he was on the rifle team, elected school President in his Junior year, and is remembered for singing a rousing rendition of "My Boy Bill" in front of the whole school. Larry then began a famously lively and storied tenure at Princeton University. He chose Princeton due to the fact that it was an all boys college in 1957, and felt he would get more work done (history proved otherwise!). Larry was a steadfast Tiger who enjoyed theater with the Triangle Club, and was a member of the Tower Dining Club. He wrote for the Princeton Tiger, the second oldest college humor magazine in the U.S. But perhaps the most significant part of Larry's college experience happened in 1957. On the school's winter break, this charismatic rogue met the incomparable Lynn Rushmore at a Christmas party. Taken aback by this charming beauty’s quirky challenge of door hoop basketball, they bet a quarter for the win, and Larry was forever smitten.

Lynn and Larry married in 1963, beginning a 61 year romance that defined the very meaning of love and devotion. Their family referred to it as a Disney-like romance. Lynn worked to put Larry through Wharton Business School, and soon after graduation, they moved to Miami, Florida. It was there that they welcomed their first child, an engaging and smiling boy named Scott. Larry reveled in fatherhood, and daughter Beth, a spirited, blue-eyed baby followed in 1968.

His professional life was similarly blessed. After an early venture as Regional Vice President for Food Fair Corporation, Larry applied his talents to the Insurance quarter. He built a "scratch" operation for Washington Square Life Insurance in 1970, serving Florida to the Carolinas. This was followed by his own Independent Brokerage Agency for Bankers Life, which evolved into the Principal Financial Group. For over 20 years, Larry's agency led the Principal in production over 40% of the time, and always placed within the top five Brokerage Agencies. In 2000, Larry accepted the position of Executive Director with the Principal Financial Group in charge of sales responsibility for six Southeastern states. He was a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table several times over. And while percentages and accolades may have defined his business life on paper, it was his sincere dedication to his client, no matter how big or how small, that defined the man. Larry would labor endless hours to make sure vulnerable clients were protected in an industry that evaluated risk, and would work to ensure his friends and clients understood the importance of long-term benefits, as opposed to the simpler, easy term choices. He was a man who was venerated in his industry not just because of his numbers. Larry was a man one could trust, who was honest, and who would deliver on a handshake.

Larry also was a man with countless interests and hobbies. In high school, he shared his father Allen's interest in watches, helping him sell Blancpain and Lucien Picard watches at Tri-State area trade shows. Larry was a Padi certified scuba diver, learning to dive in the 1950's South of France from Jacques Cousteau himself. In an interesting crossover, Cousteau wore the famed Tornek-Rayville Fifty Fathoms Dive watch developed by Larry’s father, Allen Tornek. Since that time, Larry was hooked, although never lost his sense of priorities. In 1979, after returning from a dive trip out of the country, Larry drove through Hurricane David from Orlando to Miami to reach his beloved Lynn. Renting the heaviest car available at the airport (a Lincoln Continental), he explained how the car would slide across the entire Turnpike during heavy gusts...a fact Lynn was not thrilled about. During non-hurricane events, Larry would take his children Scott and Beth on diving adventures to the Keys and the Cayman Islands...enriching their scope of the world above and below the sea.

Larry was an early participant of the running craze of the 1970's. A Marathoner, he completed the Orange Bowl, Disney, and New York Marathons several times over. Larry encouraged Scott at an early age to run cross country, eventually leading to a state championship for Ransom-Everglades in 1983. Beth was a little slow in her passion for running, but proudly completed the New York City Marathon in 1992 with her father. Larry was late to the golfing game, picking up a club in his mid 60's once he realized he could sit as much as he liked, smoke a cigar and drink café cubanos. It was at the Melreese Golf Course that he found an amazing group of friends that made up the backbone of his last 20 years.

But most of all, Larry was a shopper. If you knew Larry, you knew that he loved having his stylish wardrobe in every color, with matching belts, shirts and shoes. It is no coincidence that a mere two weeks after his passing, Orvis confirmed that it would be closing half its retail stores.

Larry's greatest accomplishments came in the form of his personal relationships. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for a friend, and people responded in kind -- loyalty was Larry's hallmark. Countless people considered him their "best friend" and that says a lot. But it was in the anonymous moments my father made us most proud. He and Lynn quietly donated to countless charities, non-profit causes, and private individuals in need. Larry would utilize his contacts to help others receive medical care they did not have access to, provide funding for those who did not fit the criteria for charity relief, and cover situational expenses that would have overwhelmed friends. He helped strangers who never knew him...when he discovered patients at Lynn's IV cancer treatment were skipping sessions not fully covered by insurance, he had the nurses forward their bills to his account . He and Lynn also secretly paid for untold restaurant birthday and anniversary celebrations where they were simply happy, casual observers.

Larry's concern for others was also revealed as a visionary who did not believe in imposed boundaries. Like his parents and grandparents before him, he saw what was right instead of what was commonplace. He leveraged his reputation in order to introduce and elevate others. Amongst his many boxes of paperwork were innumerable recommendations in the 1960's and 70's of candidates to Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton, and various companies on behalf of women and minorities who were frequently overlooked for consideration and representation. Larry would continue to strongly support and uplift anyone and everyone who he felt was not getting a fair shake, to his final day.

As a brother, Larry adored his younger brother, Terry. As an infant six years his junior, Terry didn't quite register on Larry's radar at first, but soon accompanied him on many an adventure! At three years of age, baby bottle in hand, Terry and Larry set off for summer camp...Larry fondly recalled how Terry would be a part of whatever the older boys’ bunk was doing. There was no one more proud than Larry as he watched his younger brother forge a path in public service from City Council in Springfield, Massachusetts to Mayor of Pasadena, California. The brothers traveled together to places such as Israel with their father Allen, and with Terry's adventurous wife, Maria to Glacier National Park. They spoke on the phone almost daily, and if Larry ever needed advice, the first person he called was Terry. Nothing speaks to their love of each other more than the albums of family photos...they show Larry and Terry throughout eight decades, tightly embracing with broad smiles for every picture.

As a father, Larry was unparalleled. During the more "traditional roles" of parenting in the 70's, Larry stood out as a father that was incredibly hands on and involved. He was as comfortable taking Beth to tap dancing classes as he was taking Scott to Boy Scout meetings. From a day exploring the wilds of the Everglades, to a Sunday on the couch eating Jiffy Pop and watching Star Trek, Larry would engage in every and all interests of his children. Whether it was encouraging Beth to take apart old electronics to see the inner workings, or cheering Scott on as he reeled in a dolphin half his size, Larry wanted his children to experience life as a constant curiosity. A constant adventure. He inspired both Scott and Beth with their love of photography, sharing his knowledge and delicate equipment in the name of learning. He built floor to ceiling shelves for Scott's impressive beer can collection which numbered over 2,000 cans. He surprised Beth one morning with a kitchen table covered with every possible kind of sticker during the collecting craze of 1980. He would show up unexpectedly at school with Lynn by his side in their wood paneled station wagon, meaning an impromptu trip to Disney World. Larry lived for the sheer joy of abundance that entertained. Most of all, Larry was a father you could talk to. He was a father you could express strong emotions and opinions to. He was a father who taught lessons by sharing his own stories of success and failures, devoid of any pride or hypocrisy. He was a father who wanted his children to be expansive in any way they felt represented them, and was their biggest cheerleader. He was also always ready to break any parenting rules if there was a Nathan's hot dog involved. As time went by, Larry would encourage his children to explore the world. He explained once that in his youth, he only needed a white dinner jacket and a refillable wine carafe to travel through Europe. Scott took after his father by logging country after country, but traded the white dinner jacket for an all-weather Patagonia. Beth became the child voted Most Likely to Move to Iceland. He supported common opportunities such as Scott working in the movie industry, and unique ones, such as Beth marrying a Jewish doctor. When she did, David officially joined the family, and as they say, three is a magic number. Larry and David shared a love of all things football, talking play by play for hours at a time, when David wasn’t waking Larry up from any given number of naps.

As a grandfather, Larry relished each and every moment. He was the literal "Papa Bear" to them all. His unique "Larry Style" seeped into all aspects of Grandparenting. Babysitting? He'd pop a bottle into each baby's mouth and have them fall asleep on the couch watching ESPN with him. Playtime? He built a full-size storefront so they could pretend to be grocers. Imagination? The screams of five children would fill the house when a game of Grandpa Monster was afoot, followed by a snore-filled sleepover. Life Lessons? Well, that depended on if it was before a sangria or after one, when he would laugh about his misspent youth and leave the kids wide eyed and with a smile on their faces. Larry would fly to every event that he could, relishing in each grandchild's accomplishment and cheering on their school teams with enthusiasm. Whenever life was difficult, he was always there for his grandkids...he would spend hours on the phone supporting them, guiding them, and giving that extra Grandpa humor that let them know 'this is only temporary.' Grandpa Larry was also their moral compass. He instilled in his Grandchildren the importance of serving others, of protecting those less fortunate, and of living up to your word. He knew every lesson he imparted was meant for them to make their world a better one. Most of all, Larry was about family, and love for his family. There was nothing more important to him. Year after year, Larry and Lynn reaped the remarkable benefits of all the love they bestowed, as it was returned to them in abundance. Larry will leave his grandchildren with the gift of a True North that only the unconditional love of Grandpa Larry could give.

Finally, as a husband, Larry and Lynn were simply two parts of a whole. To know Larry was to know his love for Lynn. He dedicated his life to her happiness, and she returned his devotion in kind. Their affection for each other was contagious. It left everyone around them with a feeling that they shared something special... especially friends and family. While Larry might be known for one or two grand gestures, such as whisking Lynn away on a trip to London, their love lent itself to the smaller details. He brought her favorite flowers every week. He made sure she had a full bottle of her hard-to-find perfume always on hand. He would bravely kill the bug that elicited a piercing scream throughout the house. He would let the thermostat stay at a teeth chattering 66 degrees. Larry ensured she had her favorite Italian meals and her favorite Cabernet whenever she desired, creating a lifetime of fun-filled restaurant adventures for her children and grandchildren. Imagine her joy when they first uttered "marinara"...And while one could talk in detail about the years where they lit up any room, bringing their warmth and playful spirit with them, the later years were very straightforward. Lynn lived with difficult health issues for a good deal of her final decade. Larry made it his one goal in life to be her constant, ensuring her comfort as well as providing the best care. There was nothing he wouldn't do to make her days the best they could be. He always said he wouldn't trade a minute with her for anything else, and he meant it. Larry had complete tunnel vision, and at the end of that tunnel was Lynn. No matter how difficult their journey was together, there was always laughter, kindness, affection, respect, and devotion. And there was always love. Two notes that stayed taped side by side for years in their bathroom vanity said it best...written in their own hand, edges curled with age. One yellow page in our father's handwriting said, Reminder: Kiss your husband! (with two hearts). The accompanying orange paper in our mother's hand said, Reminder: Kiss your wife (with a heart). Not that they needed reminding...

Lawrence David Tornek was the most loving, generous, spirited person inside and out. A devoted brother, uncle, grandfather and eternally loving husband, our heartbreak at losing him will be softened by our countless, wonderful memories: his kindness, his generosity, and his enthusiasm for life. He is survived by his loving children Scott, Beth and (de facto) David, grandchildren Benjamin, Sydney, Matthew, Samuel and Kaely, brother Terry, and sister-in-law Jean. Special thanks and love to Lois Gibbons, Charlie and Felicia DeLucca and his Melreese Family, Mary Ellen Carral, his Erasmus Family, and his Princeton Family.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to one of Larry’s favorite charities, DAGA/The First Tee of Miami, https://thefirstteemiami.org/donate/