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Lawrence Dunleavy
Lawrence Dunleavy, 86
Lawrence Edgar Dunleavy, 86, retired fire department captain, Second World War veteran and community volunteer, died of heart failure on June 4, 2006 at Sherwood Park Manor with his daughters by his side.
He was born in Brockville on July 20, 1919, the sixth of 11 children born to Garfield Dunleavy and the former Mabel Polley. Although he grew up in the economic hard times of the Depression and his family knew what hardship was, he had a happy and adventurous childhood and youth in Brockville. He attended Brockville Collegiate Institute and then started working at the Stetson hat factory in town.
The Second World War broke out in 1939 and Lawrence and six of his brothers joined the military. Before heading overseas, he married Ernestine "Ernie" Wylie, in September 1940. They did not see each other again until October 1945.
Dunleavy was an artillery surveyor with the 14th Field Regiment Artillery. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, he was among the first wave of Canadian soldiers to land at Bernières-sur-Mer (Juno Beach), France. Half the young men in that landing died that day.
He survived the war and returned to Brockville's Stetson factory and also worked briefly as a plasterer. Then with his wife Ernie he took a government land grant on Windsor Drive, built a house and tried farming. In 1951, ready for a change, he joined the Brockville Fire Department and found his career. He fought many of the big downtown fires and almost perished in the Grand Hotel fire. He retired in 1979 as captain of the department (one rank below chief). Any time he went back to the fire hall after retirement he was greeted with warm respect and affection by the firefighters.
A strong union supporter, he served many years as president of the Brockville Firefighters Association, negotiating improved working conditions for fellow firefighters and leading them during times of arbitration. He argued his cases so well that the people at city hall gave him the nickname "The Little Lawyer." He was also treasurer of the Municipal Employees Credit Union.
He joined the Royal Canadian Legion in Brockville after the war and was a life member at his death. In 2002, during the 75th anniversary celebrations by the local branch, the lounge at the pub was named The Dunleavy Room, after the seven Dunleavy brothers who all went to war and, against the odds, all returned.
Mr. Dunleavy was instrumental in establishing Brackinreid Park and Little League baseball in Brockville. Through the fire department he actively supported fundraising for muscular dystrophy. Many Christmases he worked on the toy drive for needy children and helped repair the toys.
In the early 1960s he and Ernie bought land for a cottage on Lower Beverley Lake. He scrounged for lumber at the newly demolished Smart's foundry site and built the cottage from recycled materials. He enjoyed spending time there with family and friends.
He loved sports and had exceptionally good hand-eye co-ordination. Trophies for horseshoes, darts, golf and bowling lined his home's window sills.
He also loved to tell family and friends a multitude of stories about his escapades in childhood, about family life during the Depression, the funny side of his war experiences, cottage living and his life as a firefighter.
Mr. Dunleavy is survived by his daughters, Linda Stockley and husband Douglas of Osgoode and Deborah Dunleavy and husband Howard Alexander of Brockville, and step grandchildren Charlotte and Abraham Alexander. Also surviving are his sister Stella Bradley of Brockville and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife Ernestine Dunleavy on February 19, 2001, by sisters Helen Sheridan and Margaret Picotte, and by brothers Garfield, Robert, Russell, Earl, Patrick, William and James Dunleavy.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville on June 7 and that evening 26 members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 96 held a special Veterans Tribute for him. The funeral was held June 8 in the Irvine Chapel, with Rev. Stan Riley officiating. Howard Alexander gave the eulogy.
Sixteen Brockville firefighters led by Fire Chief Harry Jones formed an honour guard at the funeral. The pallbearers were Al Shire, Eric Salmon, Phil Sauve and Ron Warren. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery, just west of the city.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
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