Lawrence “Larry” Dobrin died in the early morning of Jan. 15, 2007, at Providence Hospital in Everett with his loving wife, Suzanne, holding his hand. His death was due to complications from pulmonary fibrosis, a disease he had battled for over four years.

Larry was born and raised in Dearborn, Mich. He grew up in Dearborn and Milan, Mich. and graduated from Eastern Michigan University. His working career was varied: he worked as an engineering field superintendent for a major excavating company; he was a gate controller for Eastern Airlines (Boy, did he like the uniform!); he spent two years in the Army in Germany during the Cold War in an intelligence division and because of his fluency in Romanian, served as an interrogator; he worked at the University of Michigan as a representative to NASA programs and the formation of their grant programs; he built five companies in different technologies including holographic images, plain paper fax and sold the patent to a Japanese company.

From 1983 to 1998 he worked in the helicopter industry in various capacities — flying helicopters was NOT one of them. He spent many years traveling to Africa, Europe and Asia for business and always managed to add days of pleasure to his business trips. In 2000 he formed his own consulting company. In 2004 and 2005 he participated in preparing grant proposals for small businesses needing a financial boost in their business development.

During his career he earned many awards and was invited to present papers to many groups in many countries, one of the most special in St. Petersburg, Russia.

He was interested in rock hunting and developed a particular interest in opal. On weekends in the 1980s and ’90s he often headed for his opal mine in the Mojave Desert. He also visited many opal mines in Australia. He served as president of the American Opal Society.

When he “retired” to Whidbey Island, he joined the Pebble Pushers, the Rod & Gun Club, the South Whidbey Lions, the Monday Night Dogs book club, and the Langley United Methodist Church. He was one of the founding members of the South Whidbey Yacht Club.

Larry will be remembered by his family and many friends for his enthusiasm, sense of humor, his incredibly positive attitude, friendly and outgoing personality, and his intense love of life.

He is survived by his loving wife, Suzanne; daughter Sue Shepherd of Chelsea, Mich.; son Greg Dobrin of Tujunga, Calif.; granddaughter Allison Shepherd Pruitt of Manitou Beach, Mich., and granddaughter Chelsea Shepherd who is attending Grand Valley State College, Mich.; dog Maize and cats Simone and Calvin.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Langley United Methodist Church followed by burial in the Coupeville Cemetery. The time and place of the reception will be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Larry’s name to the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, Suite F, #227, 1659 Branham Lane, San Jose, CA 95118. Funeral arrangements have been handled by Visser Funeral Home.