Laurence James Rab, 78, of Oakwood, died unexpectedly on January 17, 2023. Larry was born March 22, 1944 in Dayton, Ohio, to Dr. Thomas P. and Mrs. Patricia S. Rab. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother John P. Rab, nephew Geoff Rab, and nephew Clifford Browne. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sharon Honaker Rab, his twin brother Paul Rab (Ruth) of Dayton, brother Dr. George Rab (Wendy) of California, and sister Nancy Stolz (George) of New Hampshire. He enjoyed his many nieces and nephews: Erik Rab (Heather) of Yellow Springs, Ohio; Sara Carini (Jay) of Grandview, Ohio; Nicholas Rab (Meg) of Californina; Aaron Bloomfield (Tanya) of Virginia; Kate Alvich (Paul) of New York; Susanne Stolz (Ryan) of Virginia, and John Bolen (Aurora) of New Jersey. He is also survived by numerous cousins and great nieces and nephews. Also among those who will miss him are his two special dogs, Mr. Darcy and Cosette.
Larry was a 1962 graduate of Oakwood High School, Oakwood, Ohio, received a BA in English from Earlham College in 1966, and a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati School of Law in 1970. He practiced law in Dayton, Ohio, for twenty-five years, and served as an acting judge in numerous courts throughout the area.
Larry was a member of the Dayton Bar Association, and the Associate Board of the Dayton Art Institute, and donated considerable time and support to the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation.
Larry was an avid golfer, international traveler, and a lover of theatre. He faithfully followed the UD Flyers basketball team, Ohio State football, and knew stats from teams past and present in basketball, baseball, football, and golf, as well as yardages of holes from golf courses across the country. He traveled extensively, loved sailing, a highlight being bareboat sailing with family to the Isle of Rab in Croatia.
Larry had a love of music from rock and roll to opera. He sang in high school and college, performed at numerous Gridirons, and played in two local bands--Larry and the Seniors and Blind Justice--with other attorneys and judges. Music spilled over into a love of live theatre and he attended many performances in Dayton, New York, and beyond.
He was a voracious reader and had special interests in everything from Marvel comics (his family nickname was Thor) to astrophysics. While he favored books on history, he had a special interest in science fiction and had read all the classic sci fi writers. His interest in space went beyond the fictional and he studied current books on space, time, and relativity. He made a distinction between movies (with popcorn) and film (without popcorn.) He remembered whatever he read or learned and was a walking encyclopedia on history, sports, music, literature, and popular culture.
He will be missed for his humor, his love of life, and his gentle kindness.
