Lawrence H. Voight, 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital after a long illness. He was the devoted husband of Sandra Bertaccini and father of their daughter, Sophia Voight.

Born Feb 8, 1930 in New Haven, CT to Lawrence M. and Laura (Gilroy) Voight, Larry grew up on the CT shoreline. He served in the Air Force National Guard from 1951-53. After attending Brown University and Southern CT State College he earned his Masters Degree in Education and began his life-long career of teaching high school English, first at Jonathan Law High School in Milford, then at Litchfield High School from 1963 – 1996.

Known for his Socratic teaching method, his sensitive and meticulous correction of student work, as well as his sharp editing skills, Larry earned a reputation as one of LHS’ outstanding faculty.

Jazz music, especially jazz piano, was another love of Larry’s. A self-taught stride jazz pianist, he regularly showed up an hour early at school in order to be able to play the Music Dept’s grand piano. Larry typically practiced, he would never aver to “playing,” an hour a day, everyday, up to a few months before his passing. With summers off, he was happy to take in some of the jazz festivals in the area.

In his retirement, Larry turned to travel, crossing the U.S. several times by car visiting National and State Parks and to enjoying the outdoors, especially the NW hills of CT and Mass. He hiked many trails and biked many country roads with his wife, Sandra, and although later being stricken with COPD, he never lost his love of the outdoors and could be seen occasionally, with his portable 02, walking the trails of White’s Woods.

It was in January, 2010 that Larry suffered his first pneumothorax, was hospitalized and, ultimately, diagnosed with embolitic emphysema and fibrosis of the lungs/COPD. Despite being on oxygen 24 hrs/day from that point on, he continued being as active as possible including the above mentioned short walks and taking his daughter Sophia to the library and music lessons. As well, reading remained a lifelong pursuit of his, with Larry typically reading three to four books at a clip.

He is pre-deceased by a son, Alex Voight of Bridgeport, CT; two daughters, Lisa and Laura Voight, and a stepson, Arthur Greiner.

Besides his wife and daughter, Larry is survived by a son, Hans Voight and grandchildren Alexis and Nicholas Voight, all of Crescent City CA; a daughter Gillian Voight and partner Aaron Shepard and grandchildren Dylan, Gracie, and Layla all of Lee, Mass; a sister and brother-in-law Drucilla and Larry Harder of Portland, CT and former wives Bonnie Voight of Weatogue, CT and Shirley Keyes of Milford, CT.

Donations in his name may be made to: Oliver Wolcott Library/OWL, P.O. Box 187, Litchfield, CT 06759; the Morris Volunteer Fire Dept—Charlie Pac Fund, PO Box 48, Morris, CT 06763; or White Memorial Foundation, PO Box 368, Litchfield, CT 06759.