Lawrence Szczepanek, 69, longtime resident of Provincetown peacefully transitioned from this life August 24, just short of his 70th birthday after a noble battle with cancer.
He was the son of the late John and Kathleen (Dalton) Szczepanek of Springfield, MA. After early education in Ludlow, MA, Larry went on to studies at the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in American Sign Language theory and practice—a professional direction he followed throughout his life. Between 1972 and 1980 Larry worked at both the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, serving as Dean of Students in 1979-80; and from 1980 to 1983 at the Willie Ross Schools for the Deaf in Longmeadow, MA.
At that point, he moved to Cape Cod and began working for Jimmy Majestic’s Golden Gull. By 1987, Larry was back working with the deaf at Chatham High School as an interpreter. During the short summer seasons from 1988 to 1993, Larry owned and operated J & J Ice Cream. The following year he moved from ice cream to records, cassettes and CDs as he bought Golden Gull, the business he continued to operate until 2007.
Meanwhile Larry continued to work as an interpreter for the deaf in schools from Bourne to Provincetown and points in between earning the love of all his students. He was fluent in Sign Language and was especially adept with multi-handicapped students. In the end, Larry worked lovingly at the Nauset Regional Middle School in Orleans with sixth to eighth graders.
Larry is survived by his brother John (and Martha) Szczepanek of Ludlow, MA; his sister Carol (and Leo Chenevert) of Ware, MA; his brother David Sepanek of Ludlow, MA; his step-father Alexander St. Louis of Ware, MA; and twelve nephews and nieces.
Family and friends are invited to call at the Gately Funeral Home, 94 Harry Kemp Way, Provincetown, on Friday, September 5th from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. Burial will be in Springfield.
If desired, memorial donations in Larry's name may be made to the Carrie A. Seaman Animal Shelter, Post Office Box 1374., Provincetown, MA 02657-1374.