Laurence (Larry) Taaffe, 73, died Jan. 25, 2020, after a long illness.
Born near Chicago, after high school Larry traveled around the United States and Europe (mostly hitchhiking) and served in the Air Force in Taiwan, Guam and Minot, N.D. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, he worked in molecular biology and biochemistry labs at the U and in private companies. He later changed careers and began working as a woodworker, designing and building custom wood furniture.
Larry immersed himself in his interests and things that brought him joy. He competed in preliminary levels of Olympic trials in speedskating and later got into bike racing in Minnesota and throughout the region. He found joy in nature and loved camping and hiking, especially in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and northwest U.S. and Canada.
He was a free spirit, generous, thoughtful, kind and funny, with strong feelings and opinions about social justice, equity and politics that he readily shared. He loved jazz and classical music, enjoyed happy hours and visits on the deck with friends and St. Anthony Park neighbors and especially being Megan’s father.
He is survived by his wife Diane McGuire, daughter Megan Taaffe McGuire and sister Susan Jackson.
