Accomplished ophthalmologist’s first love was his family, and his second love was skiing
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, husband and dear friend, Peter Paul Lawlor Jr., MD. Peter was born in Burlington, Vt., on May 16, 1931, to Peter Paul Lawlor Sr. and Marie (Boezinger) Lawlor. The youngest of three children, Peter attended Christ the King School, then La Salle Military Academy, before graduating from the University of Vermont, where he played football. He met and fell in love with Mary Newhall — a pretty nurse from the Northeast Kingdom — in summer 1956, and the two were married on October 12, 1957. After graduating from the University of Ottawa Medical School, Peter completed his residency in general ophthalmology at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where he was taught by Marshall M. Parks, MD, along with Washington’s other ophthalmological elite. He completed his obligation to the U.S Navy at Camp Lejeune, then returned to Washington to complete a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology, again with Marshall Parks, at Children’s National Hospital. Peter felt that the eye needs of Vermont children were underrepresented, so in fall 1969 he settled in South Burlington with Mary and their five children. Peter was a charter member of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and practiced in Vermont for 37 years. He also served in the Vermont National Guard for many years and retired a lieutenant colonel. Peter was a devoted and loving husband and was married to Mary for over 65 years. He was a passionate writer of love letters and would express his feelings with an eloquence and depth few ever saw. Mary saved every one of them. Peter was a dedicated father to his five children and introduced them to the outdoors at a very young age — encouraging them to embrace everything the Green Mountains had to offer. He was a great source of wisdom and was very generous with his time. When you spoke to him, he would stop what he was doing, giving you his full attention, listening patiently and without interruption. He was never judgmental and somehow always found the right words to bring comfort. He rarely expressed an opinion unsolicited, but if you were to ask, he wasn’t shy about telling you exactly how he felt. He was a wonderful travel companion and ignited a love of travel in his children. He would thoroughly research a trip months in advance…
Accomplished ophthalmologist’s first love was his family, and his second love was skiing
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, husband and dear friend, Peter Paul Lawlor Jr., MD. Peter was born in Burlington, Vt., on May 16, 1931, to Peter Paul Lawlor Sr. and Marie (Boezinger) Lawlor. The youngest of three children, Peter attended Christ the King School, then La Salle Military Academy, before graduating from the University of Vermont, where he played football. He met and fell in love with Mary Newhall — a pretty nurse from the Northeast Kingdom — in summer 1956, and the two were married on October 12, 1957. After graduating from the University of Ottawa Medical School, Peter completed his residency in general ophthalmology at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where he was taught by Marshall M. Parks, MD, along with Washington’s other ophthalmological elite. He completed his obligation to the U.S Navy at Camp Lejeune, then returned to Washington to complete a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology, again with Marshall Parks, at Children’s National Hospital. Peter felt that the eye needs of Vermont children were underrepresented, so in fall 1969 he settled in South Burlington with Mary and their five children. Peter was a charter member of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and practiced in Vermont for 37 years. He also served in the Vermont National Guard for many years and retired a lieutenant colonel. Peter was a devoted and loving husband and was married to Mary for over 65 years. He was a passionate writer of love letters and would express his feelings with an eloquence and depth few ever saw. Mary saved every one of them. Peter was a dedicated father to his five children and introduced them to the outdoors at a very young age — encouraging them to embrace everything the Green Mountains had to offer. He was a great source of wisdom and was very generous with his time. When you spoke to him, he would stop what he was doing, giving you his full attention, listening patiently and without interruption. He was never judgmental and somehow always found the right words to bring comfort. He rarely expressed an opinion unsolicited, but if you were to ask, he wasn’t shy about telling you exactly how he felt. He was a wonderful travel companion and ignited a love of travel in his children. He would thoroughly research a trip months in advance…