Larry Wentz Dies, Baseball & the A’s Society Suffer Huge Loss

 

Lawrence H. “Larry” Wentz passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Monday December 17, 2007.

 

 

 

 

He is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years Llewllyn “Lou Ann’ (Kelley) Wentz. He was the devoted father of Mary, Majella, Veronia, Peter, Matthew, Hope, Edward, James, Jerome, Rebecca, Julie, Joseph, and 13 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Lawrence in 1981.

Larry ‘s life centered around, his insurance firm, Kindt, Kaye & Wentz, the Notre Dame Alumni Club, The Dick Littlefield Club he founded and served as its president and most importantly, baseball that he loved and followed with a passion. Quoting his daughter Veronica “He knew all about baseball, his baseball knowledge started with the old A’s. He could tell you all about the A’s. But he was also a Phillies fan.”

He was also the first baseman on LaSalle’s 1955 team, which won the city championship by beating Olney High 2-1 at Connie Mack Stadium.

Larry was a youth coach who was active in the Police Athletic League where he coached baseball. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of baseball statistics. He also coached baseball at St. Hilary of Poitiers in Rydal and touch football at Holy Angels Parish.

A member of the A’s Society and frequent visitor to the Society’s Hatboro Museum it was not uncommon for Larry to join in conversations with other visitors to talk baseball past and present. One of the Society’s most interesting events arranged by Larry earlier this year, centered around a Dick Littlefield Club members monthly meeting held in the Society’s Museum along with former Major League American League batting champion Mickey Vernon. As Vernon would comment later, “Larry Wentz can swap baseball stories with the best of them” (quite a compliment coming from someone of Mickey Vernon’s tenure and knowledge of the game). Baseball, Notre Dame, the Dick Littlefield Club and the A’s Society have lost a treasured friend. Rest in peace Larry Wentz, we will miss you.

 

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