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03/30/2022 12:00 AM


Branford

Lawrence William Iannotti, 92, of Branford died peacefully on March 24. He was born in New Haven Aug. 25, 1929, to Grace Darling Iannotti and Anthony Thomas Iannotti, and grew up on Wooster Square with an extended family. He attended St. Mary Academy, graduating in 1947. During his childhood he became the first eagle scout from Troop 12, where he developed life-long friendships. He completed his freshman year at Yale University and was appointed to the USNA at Annapolis by Senator Brian McMann. He graduated in 1952, was commissioned as an ensign, and served on the USS Chilton for six months in the Mediterranean. In 1953 he attended CIC school in Glenview, Illinois.

He was then assigned to the USS Edmonds, based in Pearl Harbor. He went to the Submarine School in New London and was assigned to the USS Tench 417. While serving in New London he met Lucie Hoblitzelle, whom he married in February 1958. That same year he was released from active service as lieutenant commander. Afterwards he attended George Washington Law School, then transferred to Yale Law School, where he earned his LLB in 1961.

He went on to clerk for federal judge Robert P. Anderson from 1961 to 1962. He then joined the firm of Tyler, Cooper, Grant, Bowerman & Keefe, where he was made partner in 1965. For 24 years he practiced law, primarily civil litigation. He was most proud of his involvement in the New Haven Black Panther trials of 1972, where he defended Warren Kimbro, who chose to plead guilty. In 1986 he returned to Yale Law School and earned his LLM in 1988. He then went on to teach law at Washington University in St. Louis (1988 to 1990) and Cumberland School of Law (1990 to 1997).

After retiring, he volunteered as a parajudicial officer for the Hon. Peter Dorsey in the Federal District Court. He served on the board of the Mary Wade Home for 20 years and was chair for two terms. He also served on the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years Lucie H. Iannotti; four children, Anthony W. Iannotti, Lucy Iannotti (David Prentiss), Grace Iannotti (Anne Guenther), and Larry Iannotti (John Weis); and his amazing and delightful grandchildren whose company he always enjoyed, Lucie Rose Krawczyk, Nicholas Joseph Prentiss, Julia Mae Krawczyk, Maria Alejandra Guenther-Iannotti, and Angel Gabriel Guenther-Iannotti. He is also survived by his younger sister Grace Walker and sister-in-law Nancy Iannotti. He was predeceased by his brother Anthony T. Iannotti and daughter-in-law Tiina Aleman Iannotti.

He loved sailing, photography, and traveling the world with his family. He also enjoyed playing his saxophone and clarinet and singing. He loved to stay active by playing tennis and was a longtime fan of the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team.

Visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 1, at W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, at St John Bosco Parish, St. Mary Church, 731 Main Street, Branford. Burial service, following Mass, will be private. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your favorite charity. For directions and online memorial, see www.wsclancy.com.