Nolan Funeral Home, Inc.
Tribute Wall
Monday
31
December
Memorial Mass
10:30 am
Monday, December 31, 2018
Our Lady Queen Of Martyrs Church
53 Prospect Road
Centerport, New York, United States
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Steve Loverde uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, January 13, 2024
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Mr Lawrence was my 12th grade English teacher (1968-1969). He once told the class "I don't care if you read comic books, but PLEASE read something !" That impressed me. While most of my friends hung out on the street corner, I spent my nights at the (old) Farmingdale Public Library on Merritts Road (see attached photo). Thanks to Mr Lawrence, I passed that sentiment on to my grandkids and their friends.
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gail scheir posted a symbolic gesture
Thursday, September 21, 2023
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Don't ssk me why today, Sept. 21, 2023, that I am having fond memories of my English teacher at FHS, Mr. Lawrence.
Perhaps it is because he was a major influence on my academic career, and encouraged me to follow my dreams to become a writer. I graduated in 1962, and went on to earn my Ph.D. and become a faculty member at a major university. I wish that I had reached out to him and let him know how much he meant to me and so many other students. Perhaps one of his family members will read this and be reminded what a great teacher and man he was.
Gail Scheir
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Beth (Pinchawsky) Selinger posted a condolence
Monday, July 22, 2019
Bill Lawrence had an immense impact on my life. (I graduated in 1973) The way Mr. Lawrence taught, the way he reached out and cared for his students, his love and passion for theater all inspired me to go on and replicate what I learned from him.
I became a theater teacher/director and to this day every student that has ever worked with me has and will continue to know of my respect and admiration for him. Every opening night as we get ready to open the curtain, I send a loving thank you to Mr. Lawrence and dedicate every show to him.
His memory will live on in students that have never known him personally but know of the wonderful man he was and what a gift he gave to me.
He will be deeply missed but always thought of with love.
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Mario Weiss posted a condolence
Monday, December 31, 2018
I remember Robert and many others in that picture. Yes i had Bill as my English teacher. This picture brought back many memories. May he Rest In Peace
Mario Weiss
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Cliff Scheer posted a condolence
Monday, December 31, 2018
I believe that I was among the first of Bill’s Green Room Players at Farmingdale HS many, many years ago. His encouragement of what he considered to be my “talent” (previously unknown even to me) gave this awkward young man new confidence and redirected my life down pathways that neither of us could have imagined. For that, I will always be grateful and will continue to keep hallowed ground in my heart for Bill Lawrence.
Due to the friendship we formed over the course of rehearsals for many shows at FHS, I also knew his beloved Gloria (whom I called “the former Miss Fish”) and he knew my family (he called my mother “the Archduchess”), and to some extent all 5 of his children who often attended those rehearsals and were our first audiences. Years later. Bill and Gloria came to my engagement party and even visited me and my wife, Jeri, at our home in North Carolina. We were in- and out-of-touch over these many years (I tried to acknowledge his birthday on September 9 each year), but he was never far from my thoughts.
I send my heartfelt condolences to his family. Forgive the corniness, but this seems somehow appropriate: “I would write across the sky in letters that would soar a thousand feet high - 'To Sir, With Love'.”
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Nancy (DeBoer) Vaillancourt posted a condolence
Monday, December 31, 2018
Mr. Lawrence was my English teacher at Farmingdale High School in the late '60s. I enjoyed his classes and also all his work with our drama group "The Green Room Players". A particular favorite is "The Teahouse of the August Moon" with Mr. Lawrence starring as Lotus Blossum.
My condolences to his family.
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Kenneth Rodgers lit a candle
Monday, December 31, 2018
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Craig Perri posted a condolence
Monday, December 31, 2018
Mr. Lawrence was my drama teacher and he talked me into taking his drama class which athletes were not doing in those days. I leaned that Mr. Lawrence himself was a very good athlete. We played in a softball game together and he was the best on the field. He made drama cool to be a part off which was a lesson in maturity he was teaching me. An incredible actor himself and the best Mime other then Marcel Marceau. Rest in peace Mr. Lawrence. You had a profound impact on my life. God bless you and yoir family.
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Jeffrey Weinstock posted a condolence
Sunday, December 30, 2018
My prayers are with his family on their loss
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Deborah A. Dahl posted a condolence
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Death Is Nothing At All
Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
By Henry Scott-Holland
The author, Henry Scott-Holland (1847 - 1918), a priest at St. Paul's Cathedral of London, did not intend this message as a poem, it was actually delivered as part of a sermon in 1910. The sermon, titled, "Death the King of Terrors" was preached while the body of King Edward VII was lying in state at Westminster. This poem is often read at funerals.
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Beth Selinger posted a condolence
Sunday, December 30, 2018
My deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Lawrence.
I became a theater teacher/director because of Mr. Lawrence’s inspiring teachings and genuine love for his students.
Blessings to you all.
Rest In Peace Sir. You will be missed.
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Alan Haber posted a condolence
Sunday, December 30, 2018
I am so very sorry to hear this. Mr. Lawrence opened up vast vistas for me, in which I learned to think more creatively. He got me to perform mime! That was a huge stretch for me! My condolences to his family. Maybe rest in peace.
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Deborah A. Dahl lit a candle
Sunday, December 30, 2018
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Holding you all in the light. -Deb
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Janet Roddin posted a condolence
Saturday, December 29, 2018
I am thankful to have “adopted” Uncle Bill, as my uncle, when I married his nephew, Daniel Roddin.
He was always energetic in intellectual bantering; he challenged thoughts and ideas with his swift, sharp mind, and always prodded you into a lively debate of cleverly, crafted words and perspectives!
Of course he was cantankerous In all of the seasons that I knew him, but he always allowed you into some his thoughtful struggles, and that endears him to my memories.
SHUB to you, dear, Uncle Bill!
Dan and I were able to spend time with him a few months ago; we shared a precious conversation, in his last weeks of decline. He maintained a sharp wit, but softened so sweetly in his appreciation of humanity in its frailty.
Yes, Uncle Bill, you are seen, heard, understood and believed!
I believe he is safely with his Maker; he truly humbled himself before Him and was reconciled in all his short-comings, through receiving the forgiveness and mercy that Jesus purchased for him over 2000 years ago.
The curtain has closed on the last act in your play.
You will be missed here; see you in glory. :)
Love always, Janet and Dan Roddin and family <3
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Robert Braglia uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, December 29, 2018
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Rehearsing The Green Room Players mime group, about a half century ago....and i remember that day.
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Robert Braglia posted a condolence
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Dear Nancy and Family,
Please accept my condolences.
Any list of the important influences in my life, short or long, new or old, will have your Dad's name on it.
Think of the huge number of people who, I am sure, feel the same way.
Memories live forever.
With love,
Robert
PS - I am posting one of my favorite photos, just about a half century old.
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Cliff Newman posted a condolence
Saturday, December 29, 2018
I was fortunate to have had Bill as a teacher and a friend- a man of huge talent and great humor. He was a daring educator - introducing HS students to Richard Bolesavsky and leading the only traveling mime troupe that I knew of. My life has been far richer for having known him.
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Patricia Quarant Becker posted a condolence
Saturday, December 29, 2018
From the time I was 15 years old and walked into an audition at the beginning of my first year at Farmingdale High School, Bill became a profound influence in my life. Teacher, director, mentor, and most importantly, friend. Lots of memories over 50 years, too many to recount here. I am very grateful that I got to see him twice in the past couple of months - we had good visits and I was pleased to see him fighting the good fight with his usual humor.
To Chris, Nancy, Barbara, Susan, Paul and all Bill's family - my heart is with you.
And William, my old friend, rest in the peace you've earned with your beautiful Gloria, and may perpetual light shine upon you both, always.
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Charlotte Koons posted a condolence
Saturday, December 29, 2018
As a colleague of Gloria's at Norwood School, I got to meet Bill at parties and such.
Our mutual interest in theatre made each meeting a delight! I fully believe that he and Gloria are staging some 'heavenly' productions right about now!
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Patty Bell (Patty Palmer) posted a condolence
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Dear Mr. Lawrence, You made a bigger impact on my life than you’ll ever know. My memories of you will forever be joyous, youthful, and full of promise. Thank you for the self-confidence you helped this once too-tall, awkward, self-conscious teenager to discover and cherish 40+ years ago. To you, dear teacher and friend, I shall remain forever grateful. Thank you for your leadership, friendship, and for the twinkle in those blue eyes which my FHS fellow World of Mime members will forever hold dear. May you Rest In Peace and love.
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Meg Gillies Cleary posted a condolence
Friday, December 28, 2018
Greatest stage memory of my life , Tea House of The August Moon directed by Bill Lawrence. A wonderful family friend who was adored by the community and all the Gillies.My first visit to my new in laws in the 80’s ,our dinner conversation was about their eldest and his admiration of Bill Lawrence. He touched so many lives with his talent and craft.
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Carol Ratnoff Kaplan posted a condolence
Friday, December 28, 2018
Thanks to my dear friend Nancy Lawrence Gentile, I knew Bill Lawrence my entire adult life. He was a friend and an inspiration, always encouraging me to always go for the gold. I was invited to elaborate sumptuous homemade Chinese dinners at his home complete with menus written in Chinese, full traditional ethnic regalia down to the cutlery - it was never just a meal, it was a cultural experience. These extraordinary evenings always prompted me to ask my father “how come you don’t cook?!”. Bill and Chris took Nancy and I fishing at night with the moon and a lantern as the only light. And to our amazement we each caught a fish which was handsomely prepared by Bill for breakfast the next morning. Lastly, Bill loved humor, had a wonderful sense of humor and appreciated anyone with a good sense of humor. Maybe that’s one of the reasons we connected from our first meeting so many years ago. Bill, I will miss your bellowing laugh and your shoulders uncontrollably shrugging up and down while telling or enjoying a funny story. Thank you for so many incredible memories. Please give my love to Gloria. Much love, Carol
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The family of William A. Lawrence uploaded a photo
Friday, December 28, 2018
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The family of William A. Lawrence uploaded a photo
Friday, December 28, 2018
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Marilyn Barker posted a condolence
Friday, December 28, 2018
Chris.... I’m so sorry to read this. Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time. My sincere condolences, Marilyn
