Lawrence Denis Gaughan
July 19, 1933 ~ June 23, 2019
Larry Gaughan
It pains me greatly to tell you that Larry Gaughan died of melanoma on June 23, 2019.
As a lawyer, family mediator, and especially as a husband, Larry’s favorite topic was probably SIX COMPONENTS OF A GREAT MARRIAGE (As his wife I was surely the beneficiary). He wrote extensively about adaptability in marriage, marital responsibility, marriage as a partnership and the role of self esteem in marriage.
Lest you think “Here is a man thinking great thoughts as he rocks”. Not at all. This is the same man who bicycled 390 miles (much of it with a flat tire and in the rain) across the mountains of Montana in 4 ½ days to attend his 50th high school reunion.
Larry was admitted to the Montana State Bar in 1957 and to the Virginia State Bar in 1967. Following a tour of duty in the Air Force as judge advocate in Texas, Turkey and France he obtained his LL.M and was asked to teach at UVA. He did so for seven years.
In 1979, Larry was selected as “Scholar in Residence” at Georgetown University Family Center. He integrated his studies with mediation and soon opened his own mediation practice calling it, “FAMILY MEDIATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON”.
Larry’s work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today and Virginia Laywers Weekly.
Memorial services will be held at Money and King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, VA on Sunday June 30 at 2:00pm.
Any donations to be made in Larry’s name should be made to Doctors Without Borders. To do so please call (888) 392-0392. The online guestbook is available at www.moneyandking.com
It pains me greatly to tell you that Larry Gaughan died of melanoma on June 23, 2019.
As a lawyer, family mediator, and especially as a husband, Larry’s favorite topic was probably SIX COMPONENTS OF A GREAT MARRIAGE (As his wife I was surely the beneficiary). He wrote extensively about adaptability in marriage, marital responsibility, marriage as a partnership and the role of self esteem in marriage.
Lest you think “Here is a man thinking great thoughts as he rocks”. Not at all. This is the same man who bicycled 390 miles (much of it with a flat tire and in the rain) across the mountains of Montana in 4 ½ days to attend his 50th high school reunion.
Larry was admitted to the Montana State Bar in 1957 and to the Virginia State Bar in 1967. Following a tour of duty in the Air Force as judge advocate in Texas, Turkey and France he obtained his LL.M and was asked to teach at UVA. He did so for seven years.
In 1979, Larry was selected as “Scholar in Residence” at Georgetown University Family Center. He integrated his studies with mediation and soon opened his own mediation practice calling it, “FAMILY MEDIATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON”.
Larry’s work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today and Virginia Laywers Weekly.
Memorial services will be held at Money and King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, VA on Sunday June 30 at 2:00pm.
Any donations to be made in Larry’s name should be made to Doctors Without Borders. To do so please call (888) 392-0392. The online guestbook is available at www.moneyandking.com
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So sorry for your loss. Larry was a true gentleman and mentor to many. He will be truly missed by the legal community. Alanna Williams
Larry was a calming force in the Domestic Relations law field, whose contributions especially regarding his mediation services will be greatly missed. Debra Goldenberg
Larry was a kind person and intelligent attorney. I worked in the same building with him, and enjoyed our conversations about the legal profession, and hearing his passion for mediation. My colleagues and I will miss him! Sincerest condolences to his family from all of us at Marbury Law.
Larry was a kind, thoughtful and caring lawyer who thought of those going through divorce, first. A champion of a kinder, gentler divorce and separation process with energy for days. Larry, you will be dearly missed. We send your family our love. I consider myself grateful for having had the chance to know and work with you. Rest in Kindness.
Larry was such a wonderful, warm and nonjudgmental person. I knew him through the collaborative law community in Northern Virginia and was always moved by his compassion and thoughtfulness. Sincerest condolences to his family – whom he loved deeply.
A candle was lit for the decedent.
I’m sorry for your loss. May the words found in the Bible book of Acts 24:15 give you comfort.
Larry will be truly missed by all his colleagues and clients. Throughout the 17 years I worked with him, clients would come out of a meeting with Larry saying that they were happy they had come to speak with him, even under such circumstances. Larry listened; he was companionate and so calm. Everyone had great respect for Larry, who often would get calls from colleagues wanting his opinion and suggestions. Even today, I received a call from on old client wanting to send him a gift, not knowing of his passing. So yes, years later we still hear from clients who were so happy with his services. I always had a smile on my face when Larry would return from a court case. He came in smiling because “WE WON”. I do not remember a case he did not win. Unfortunately we lost a truly dedicated man who loved what he did and was a wonderful boss. My deepest condolences to Joyce, Walter Lawrence ,Ben, Adam, Eric, Arline and all his family.
Shock and deep loss comes today to our professional community. Personally and collectively we have lost an innovator, dedicated and committed professional and supportive friend. My late husband and I knew Larry and enjoyed the intelligence, warmth and support over decades. I only wish for Larry’s family that his memory be a blessing. Phyllis Miller Palombi
When I first stared practicing law over 30 years ago, Larry was someone I really looked up to and respected. Over the years, I had the pleasure of working with him and always walked away from the experience having learned something about the practice of family law. He will be missed. Patti Philipse
A stellar human being – exemplifying integrity, compassion and service to all. May he rest in peace knowing he helped so many in such a productive lifetime.
I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your loved one. When someone we love dies, it’s natural to want to see that person again. God promises us that He will comfort us in our trials if we go to him in prayer. 2 Corinthians 1:3 calls him the God of all comfort. I’d like to share with y’all this link that shows 12 steps on coping with grief that is good for sharing. I have personally found this very comforting and I hope y’all do as well. https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=102018086&srcid=share
I met Larry in the late 1970’s when he was teaching family law at George Mason and had begun a small private practice of family mediation. I had started my own full time practice of family mediation in 1974. I was not a lawyer, but a psychologist, and although we came from different academic backgrounds we found our approach to mediation in family matters overlapped considerably. In 1980, OJ Coogler had founded a national organization, called the FMA, but there was considerable conflict and confusion under Mr. Coogler’s leadership. Larry stepped in and his calm and fair leadership led to the founding of the Academy of Family Mediators which continued to lead the field in its professional development until some 20 years later when the Academy joined a larger professional group. Larry’s kindness toward many dozens of mediators with very different agendas will long be remembered. He had a caring soul that made a difference in settling hundreds of family disputes. Mark Lohman, PhD.
When I first met Larry in 1985 and expressed interest in practicing family law and mediation, he said he would do anything he could to help. He graciously offered me a mediation internship in the form of sitting with him as he mediated divorces, which he did mostly in the evenings while maintaining a family law practice and teaching at George Mason law school. Larry’s role as a pioneer, visionary, and innovator in the emerging new paradigm for the process of divorce already was established publicly. During approximately 80 hours of his mediations over a 10-month period, I had the great privilege to observe and learn from Larry privately. Techniques for effective mediation can be taught, but beyond that there is an artistry, and Larry was a true artist, masterfully creating examples, couple by couple, of the new paradigm. Employing what was most appropriate in the moment with seeming effortlessness, Larry consistently maintained an energetic presence of calmness in the face of intense emotional reactivity as he skillfully and compassionately redirected the couple to future-focused problem-solving. His apt application of “Don’t just do something, sit there”, as he jokingly referred to it, came as a revelation to me, as it often would prompt a couple to speak from what had become an uncomfortable silence to continue to create what they had self-selected into cooperative mediation to create. What Larry demonstrated and imparted was of inestimable value, a deep resource from which I have drawn many times in my own practice. I have been generously and deeply blessed by Larry’s caring spirit, example, and guidance.
A candle was lit for the decedent.
I first met Larry in 1979 where I was a student at GMU Law School and he was my professor. He always had time for me and others and was after entering private practice where I practiced Family Law, he was always there to answer any questions and offer advice. I used him as a mediator in many cases and was always amazed at how my clients felt they were heard and understood by Larry. He was always able to settle cases and to this day I admire at his ability to see the whole picture. I will miss him and miss not being able to call and ask for his wise and sage advice. Please know that he was truly admired and respected and we in the legal community will truly miss him.