LAWRENCE J. ANASTASI

In Memoriam

On November 4, 2021, Lawrence J. Anastasi, 68, of Ardmore, PA., cherished son, brother, uncle, beloved friend, artist and lifetime health care professional, passed away after an acute illness. We take comfort in the fact that he was able to say,  "I've had a great life."

Lawrence was born on December 11th, 1952 in Philadelphia, PA to William J. Anastasi of New York, NY and Irene Anastasi Martin of Media, PA. He lived his first decade in Secane, PA where he attended Primos Elementary school and engaged in many of the traditional pastimes of childhood, including pickup baseball, sledding, and woodland adventures, ending up at the Bazaar of All Nations for Bernie's Pretzels (this last of which he shared with his niece and nephew, much to their delight).

Lawrence moved with his family to Mill Hall, PA in 1964, where at the ripe age of 11, he helped his stepfather and brother build the family home. He graduated from Bald Eagle Nittany High School in 1970 and from Lock Haven State College in 1974 with a B.A. in English. Following Hurricane Agnes in 1972 which flooded their home, he and his brother moved into a neighbors unoccupied home next door, where they read, studied and lived by the light of the beeswax candles that Lawrence made.

Upon graduation from college, Lawrence joined his family in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. He worked as a health care practitioner in Lenox, MA until moving back to Pennsylvania to enroll in Villanova University's Teacher Corps program, from which he graduated with a Master's Degree in Counseling in 1979. He went on to become Clinical Director, then CEO of White Marsh House in Fort Washington, PA.

Lawrence began making art in the early 1980s. Though he rarely showed his work, he produced a substantial volume of work which was exhibited in galleries and museums locally as well as in New York, Denmark, and Germany.

Lawrence was also an athlete. He was a trophy winning runner who enjoyed swimming and cycling and who taught fencing in the Berkshires.

Lawrence is survived by his parents William and Irene, his brother William and wife Melanie Litchfield of West Hartford, CT, his sister Jeanne Marie Anastasi Wolff and partner Marc Hanlan of Glen Mills, PA, his nephew Nicholas Anastasi and wife Amanda O'Brien of Newburyport, MA, and his niece Chatham-Rose Anastasi of Portland, ME.

Lawrence was an incredibly unique person, who loved and was loved by all who knew him. His quiet and gentle demeanor hid a sharp wit and an irresistible sense of humor and irony. He was beloved and is greatly missed.

Services are private. A memorial and art exhibit are planned. This page will be updated to reflect schedules and announcements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. cholangiocarcinoma.org

____

Arrangements: Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Home
15 E. Fourth St. Media, PA 19063
www.haganfuneralhome.com