Lawrence J. Filippelli - Obituary

awrence J. “Larry” Filippelli, 98, a 6-year resident of Ginger Cove in Annapolis and previously of Harwood and District Heights, MD, passed away on April 22, 2022. Born on March 17, 1924 in Washington, DC to the late Frank and Annette Filippelli, Larry graduated from St. John’s College High School in 1942. As a teenager, he excelled at basketball and baseball. In 1943, he was playing baseball when he was approached and offered a major league contract. Larry thanked the recruiter but declined because he had already signed a contract with another recruiter, the United States Navy. He was inducted in July 1943 and served on the USS Guadalcanal as a radioman before his discharge in 1946. Larry continued serving his country in a civilian capacity with the U.S. Department of Navy where he worked on the Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missile program. He later transitioned to NASA responsible for preparing briefing materials for the NASA Administrator, James Webb, and members of Congress.. He retired in 1979. Larry was an active member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Southeast Washington, DC, Mt. Calvary Catholic Church in District Heights, MD where he was a member of the Holy Name Society and Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville, MD where he and his wife were collection counters. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Larry was an adult leader for his son’s Boy Scout troop and he enjoyed building model airplanes. His passion for sports continued long after he stopped playing. He was an avid fan of the Washington Senators until the team left the area then switched allegiance to the Baltimore Orioles. In addition to his parents, Larry was preceded in death by his loving wife of 73 years, Rosemary Filippelli, who died only four months ago in December 2021, and his sister, Evelyn Costa. He is survived by four children, Larry Filippelli, Jr. and his wife, Michelle, of Fredericksburg, VA, Francis Filippelli and his wife, Lisa, of Edgewater, MD, Dee Orth and her husband, Vince, of Lyons, KS, and Maryann Penn and her husband, Taras Vizzi, of Stewartstown, PA; seven grandchildren, Michael, Bradley, Rich, Laura, Jen, Brandi, and Jessie; and 11 great-grandchildren. Friends are invited to celebrate Larry’s life with his family at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD 21037 on Sunday, May 1 from 3 to 6 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Holy Family Catholic Church Chapel, 826 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD 21035 on Monday, May 2 at 11 a.m. Entombment will follow at the Resurrection Cemetery Mausoleum in Clinton, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at Holy Family Catholic Church. Online condolences may be offered using the Memories tab on this page.