Lawrence Damico

Lawrence A. Damico
Dad / Papa / Mr. D
1949 - 2018

Lawrence Damico, 68, died surrounded by his family on March 21, 2018. He is preceded in death by his mother (Agnes), father (John), brother (Joe), granddaughter (Abigail), and wife (Barb).

Larry was born and raised on the east side of St. Paul, MN, growing up in an Italian Catholic family with his three brothers, Dennis, Joe, and John. He graduated from Hill High School and went on to graduate from the University of St. Thomas.

Larry met Barb while he was auditioning for a musical for which Barb was accompanist. They married in 1976 and spent the rest of their marriage continuing to direct and produce works of musical theater together.

In 1984, Larry and his family moved to East Grand Forks, MN, so Larry could pursue his teaching certificate at the University of North Dakota. He started teaching in the East Grand Forks School District, where he spent the entirety of his career as an English teacher and theater director at the high school and middle school.

Life for Larry and his children changed when, in early 1991, Barb died suddenly of a heart attack. She was only 40.

Larry responded by devoting himself to his children - Daniel, Elizabeth, and Matthew - and his work.

In 1993, Larry began a summer theater camp in East Grand Forks. The camp eventually grew into Summer Arts Stages, an organization that continues to put on camps around northern Minnesota and North Dakota. It was for Stages that Larry wrote two original scripts, both of which have been published and produced by schools and camps around the country. He also oversaw the theater department at the East Grand Forks Senior High and Central Middle School for much of his career, directing musicals, one-act plays, and creating outlets for students to grow as artists. A number of Larry's students continue to work professionally in the arts and cite "Mr. D" as a formative influence.

Larry continued teaching and directing in the community until his retirement in 2008, after which he returned to live in the Twin Cities. Retirement did not stop Larry from doing what he enjoyed, as he remained active as an educator - tutoring students and working for a community education program for a number of years - and a director, leading productions at churches in the Twin Cities and at Holden Village in Washington.

Most importantly, though, Larry spent his retirement years doting on his grandkids, who lovingly knew him as "Papa."

In July of 2017, Larry was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. Despite the diagnosis, Larry lived the final nine months of his life just as he had the previous 68 years, devoting himself to his family, his God, and seeking to make the lives of those around him better.

Larry is survived by his children and their families: Daniel and Katie Damico (Moorhead, MN), and their children Isaiah and Lily; Elizabeth Damico (Hastings, MN), and her daughter Micaela; Matthew and Anna Damico (Louisville, KY), and their children Willa, Everly, and Miles Lawrence; by his brothers and their wives: Dennis and Toni (Oakdale, MN), John and Mary (Minneapolis); and by a large extended family he held dear.

Visitation and funeral service for Larry Damico will be held on Saturday, April 7th at 11:00 AM with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM at Memorial Lutheran Church of Afton, 15730 Afton Blvd, Afton, MN 55001. A private burial will be held for family.

In honor of Larry's commitment to and passion for the arts, his children have opened the Larry Damico Memorial Fund, which will help support arts organizations in Northwest Minnesota, such as Summer Arts Stages, the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, and similar groups.