Memories of Kenneth Richard Laureys

In memory of

Kenneth Richard Laureys

Riverdale, MD, USA

January 26, 1956 - March 20, 2019

Jan 26, 1956 - Mar 20, 2019

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Ed McAndrew

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Ed McAndrew

My condolences to the Laurey family. I'm sorry this is so late as I only heard last night. We had a Gonzaga Wrestling Alumni dinner last. We were all part of the 85-86 team. Coach was a great man. I will always be thankful to him for the opportunity. Coach, from his all exemplified being a "A Man for Others" May he Rest In Peace

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Cecilia Laureys

Four years ago today you left here brother, but you're not gone. You are with me always through all the talks and visits in which you gave love, inspiration, help, LOTS of fun, or just listened.

I love you Kenny. I miss you, and will until I see you again, with Eddie, Brian, Dad, Mom and Carlos.

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Cecilia Laureys

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Pat and Vicki Romano

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Christine Healion-Beers

The Healion family extend our deepest sympathies to the Laureys family. Kenny was a wonderful man and extended much kindness to our family through the years. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this difficult time.

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Cecilia Laureys

Greg Terry

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Rüdiger Ritter

My husband Rüdiger, our daughter Annabel and I (Vivian von Freytag Löringhoff) are sad about having got these tragical news. In 2010, Ken and Liz were our hosts in their home in Riverdale for two months, when Rüdiger in the National Archives in Washington D.C. searched for material for his habilitation.
Ken helped us to get Annabel into a High school by talking to the right persons – we wouldn’ t have succeeded without him. It was wounderful for us to make typical experiences like a feast at Thanksgiving and this astonishing evening at Halloween. In Bremerhaven, there are only 10 children coming for “trick or treat”, in Riverdale there were several hundred. For me a very strong remembrance are our evenings on the porch talking about American and German politics where we shared our opinions.
With Ken, we visited New York (Chinatown), he took us to his home (Netcong) and we had a journey into the countryside visiting an Indian festival. Ken also attended a presentation at the German Historical Institute, Washington, D. C., where Rüdiger was based at that time.
During this longe time, the contact with Ken was not interrupted. He shared with us the photographs of baby Slavna, and just a few weeks ago, we had an email exchange on the recent political situation in America. We will miss Ken a lot.
Vivian, Rüdiger, and Annabel

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Cecilia Laureys

Erick Oribio

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Robert Ponder

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Delvin Fanning

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Cecilia Laureys

Bob Dupwe

Vienna, VA, USA

I worked for about five years with Ken at the National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (NISH). It was (and still is) an organization that helped provide employment for people with severe disabilities throughout the U.S. Ken was our key legislative person, responsible for promoting and protecting our program in Congress. As everyone who knew Ken is aware, he was relentless in advocating for people with disabilities and anyone else who needed help. The memory that will always stay in my mind is an annual event in which he would bring in people with disabilities from all over the U.S. to visit Congress and advocate for disability rights. He would assist these individuals by helping them present their stories in a way that would be effective and meaningful to the congressional representatives and their staff. His life is an example to all of us who wish to 'make a difference.'

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Kathleen Clanton

Cecilia Laureys

Iris Braxton

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Delvin Fanning

I'm Delvin Fanning a resident with my spouse Emily of Riverdale Park, MD. I am a fellow member with Ken of the Riverdale Park, MD, Art Council, RPAC. Ken in recent years served as Treasurer of this organization and he helped it develop its web site and he kept it up in advance of its annual Art Fest that usually has occurred on the first weekend in May, although this year it will occur in a new location on July 6, 2019, without his involvement. In former years it has occurred in the Riverdale Park Town Center. One of Ken's contributions was to label on the asphalt of the parking lot there with numbers, that are still there, the sites where those who participated in the Art Fest set up their tents/sites. He was a very practical person who also was involved in purchasing a large tent for the site of the Art Council.. Ken was a very good man and RPAC greatly benefited from his service to the organization. He will be much missed by the organization and the whole Riverdale Park community and by Emily and me. He volunteered to help us keep up our yard. Ken liked to do bonsai miniature plants that he sometimes displayed and sold at the RPAC art fest.
Delvin and Emily Fanning, we are deeply grieved by Ken's loss to us, his family and our whole community.

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Kathleen Clanton

Cecilia Laureys

Comments:

Delvin Fanning

I am Emily Fanning who has lived in Riverdale for 57 years.   I have known  Ken and Liz for a long time.  Ken was the type of person who was always willing to listen and offer to help.  At the same time RPAC was developing I started a doll club for the children in the town teaching them the dying art of early Bed Post type 1800 doll making, with wood & cloth body , history, fashion, wig making gradually  learning knitting, wet felting & other fine art things. Liz volunteered with the girls off and on.   Ken was there for me teaching how to do the end of year finance report.   He helped with writing some advertising .  Today the girls who have been in the club for years are starting to write for the Town Crier what they have learned and how it applies to their life.  Ken offered to teach them how to write & develop the articles.  The girls were excited he took an interest in them.  Ken & I were  currently working on a new class to teach the girls Victorian Alchemy, the art of turning miniature rose petals into  necklace beads along with drying the  buds to decorate the doll hats.  Ken was teaching me how to groom my 125 yr old rose bush.  In return he could have as many cuttings for his bonsai as needed. We were looking forward to maybe developing a teeny rose blooming bush. So Ken,  I thank you for your friendship over the years and thank you for teachings and for being there.

I am Emily Fanning who has lived in Riverdale for 57 years. I have known Ken and Liz for a long time. ... Read more I am Emily Fanning who has lived in Riverdale for 57 years. I have known Ken and Liz for a long time. Ken was the type of ... Read more I am Emily Fanning who has lived in Riverdale for 57... Read more

Delvin Fanning

I would also like to share recently when I was over to Liz/Ken house talking to Ken re some help/advice ,... Read more I would also like to share recently when I was over to Liz/Ken house talking to Ken re some help/advice , he got up to get something... Read more I would also like to share recently when I was over... Read more

Delvin Fanning

Del did not write the above. I, Emily, was over to the house and Ken said it to me. Del did not write the above. I, Emily, was over to the house and Ken said it to me. Del did not write the above. I, Emily, was over to... Read more

Michelle and Rick Oleski

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Cecilia Laureys

Comments:

Michelle and Rick Oleski

Rick and I are deeply touched by this beautiful tribute to Kenny. As the days go by, I hear more and more... Read more Rick and I are deeply touched by this beautiful tribute to Kenny. As the days go by, I hear more and more stories of Rick and... Read more Rick and I are deeply touched by this beautiful tribute... Read more

Kathleen Clanton

Thank you Michelle & Rick. He really loved all you Oleski’s. Thank you Michelle & Rick. He really loved all you Oleski’s. Thank you Michelle & Rick. He really loved all you ... Read more

Mary Nelson

My prayers are with all as you go through this difficult time.

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Kathleen Clanton

Margaret Laureys

2018, Andover, NJ

Laureys Family Reunion, when we shared our last family time with beloved brother Kenny

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Kathleen Clanton

Cecilia Laureys

Comments:

Margaret Laureys

This is the Laureys Family Reunion, 2018. I was not going to go because I was home feeling sorry for myself over a nerve disorder I'd gotten that makes my eye twitch, among other things. Ken called me up 2 hours into the picnic and said, "Get over here right now." I replied, "I am really not up to it." You see, I am an exceedingly vain woman and thus could not tolerate anything wrong with my face. "You won't be doing it for yourself," Ken explained. "You'd be doing it for the family. For me. Now get over here."

I did. And I am glad for it, because it made him happy.

I am at Kenny's house right now in Maryland because he discovered the country's preeminent surgeon for my disorder at Johns Hopkins Hospital, 20 min from his house. I was so grateful for his help that I ceased the constant whining over my appearance and tried to be stronger for his sake. I mean, he had his own problems yet there he was taking me in & driving me to Hopkins. I needed to help him out too, and I'm so grateful that I did. Indeed, my first thought on his death was, "Thank god I was being good and helpful to Kenny."

This all makes me think of that motto: "Live every day as if it's your last." Well, no, we should not live as if it is "our" last day, because when we're gone we won't know the damned difference. Instead, we need to live every day as if it's the OTHER person's last. So that we can be as good as possible to them.

This is the Laureys Family Reunion, 2018. I was not going to go because I was home feeling sorry for myself... Read more This is the Laureys Family Reunion, 2018. I was not going to go because I was home feeling sorry for myself over a nerve disorder... Read more This is the Laureys Family Reunion, 2018. I was not... Read more

Cappy Olivo

I didn't know Kenny later in life I knew him as Kathleen's older brother and my sisters class mate. My moms... Read more I didn't know Kenny later in life I knew him as Kathleen's older brother and my sisters class mate. My moms good friends Sissy's... Read more I didn't know Kenny later in life I knew him as Kathleen's... Read more