IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Lawrence "Larry"
O'Rourke,
March 6, 1938 – December 3, 2014
Obituary
Lawrence (Larry) J. O'Rourke Jr
Born March 6, 1938 New Orleans, LA – Passed Away Dec 3, 2014 San Juan Capistrano, CA.
He was a loving father and husband, and an entrepreneur.
The son of Lawrence O'Rourke Sr. and Amelia O'Rourke, Larry grew up in New Orleans where he went to St Stephen's Grammar School. He attended the Vincentian Monastery for the priesthood at Cape Girardeau, Missouri for his first two years in high school. Realizing that monastic life was not his calling, he returned to New Orleans and attended his remaining high school years at De La Salle High School.
In Sept 1956 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and received his basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA. He was ultimately assigned to the Marine Corps Base at Twenty Nine Palms, CA where he rose to the rank of Lance Corporal.
In Sept of 1957 Larry met his first wife, Eileen Fitzgerald. They were married in July of 1961 and had three children.
After leaving the Marine Corps he attended Los Angeles Valley College and then USC where he studied architecture. While going to school Larry started working for Pioneer Brokers selling real estate in Norwalk, CA in 1962.
In 1964 Larry opened his own real estate office with partner Pat Riley in Hollywood, CA. At first the small company was called O'Rourke / O'Reily Realtors. As their sales force grew, the company became known as Hollywood Properties.
In 1971 he went out on his own and formed Larry O'Rourke & Company Realtors at 1710 N. La Brea, Hollywood, CA. By 1976 he had opened a second location in Studio City, CA, 1979 a third location in Beverly Hills, CA and from 1985 to 1995 a fourth location in Newport Beach, CA. His office was a major presence in the Los Angeles real estate market from Los Feliz to Hollywood, Outpost Estates & Nichols Canyon, Sunset Plaza, Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks and Studio City. He served on the Los Angeles Board of Realtors for many years and received the honor of President in 1979. Larry also served on the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
From 1972 – 1996 he acquired and owned a successful escrow company known as Escrow Management Co. An astute property manager and income property specialist, Larry built his own personal portfolio into another separate business owned to present day. In 2011 he received the honor and title of "Realtor Emeritus" from The National Association of Realtors and "Honorary Member for Life" status from The California Association of Realtors.
In 1987 he met Dawn Smith and they were married in 1992.
Larry had a great love of boats and was an avid powerboat yachtsman for over forty years. His favorite was the 56' Cest Moi. In 1999 he received a license from the U.S. Coast Guard as a certified Captain and in 2008 received the title of a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer to pilot a vessel up to 100 gross registered tons.
He also had a great love of British and Italian marque automobiles that he shared with his two sons and daughter. Many a sunny afternoon was spent driving along Mulholland Drive in the hills above Los Angeles or by the ocean in Newport Beach and Laguna.
He also loved flying and received his pilot license in 1976. He flew a Cessna 175, 185, and a Cessna Cardinal.
He loved sharing time with his children and grandchildren. Weekends where a cherished moment to be with family and friends aboard his boat, or at a dinner gathering. Always the life of the party and the first one to congratulate a family member or friend on a recent accomplishment, his smile lit up the room. His enthusiasm and drive was enormous. He was an inspiration to absolutely "dozens" of people to make their lives better and reach their goals.
He is survived by his wife Dawn O'Rourke, her father Bill and mother Roslyn, her sister Cheri and husband Russell. His first wife Eileen O'Rourke and their three children: Larry O'Rourke III and his wife Carolyn; Thomas O'Rourke, his wife Mary and their three children T.J., Christopher, and Ryan; his daughter, Karen O'Rourke Haney, her husband Brad and their two girls Lauren and Amelia; his sister, Ayeesha Rees and his two nieces Courtney Rees, Rene Rees Garrett, her husband Randy and daughter Megan.
Services will be held at San Juan Capistrano Mission Basilica on Wednesday December 10, 2014 at 11:30am. Burial immediately following at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar, CA.
Please join us in remembering Larry and view the McCormick & Son Video Tribute (please click on the link below to view) and share your thoughts and fond memories with our family below.
http://videos.lifetributes.com/546793
Born March 6, 1938 New Orleans, LA – Passed Away Dec 3, 2014 San Juan Capistrano, CA.
He was a loving father and husband, and an entrepreneur.
The son of Lawrence O'Rourke Sr. and Amelia O'Rourke, Larry grew up in New Orleans where he went to St Stephen's Grammar School. He attended the Vincentian Monastery for the priesthood at Cape Girardeau, Missouri for his first two years in high school. Realizing that monastic life was not his calling, he returned to New Orleans and attended his remaining high school years at De La Salle High School.
In Sept 1956 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and received his basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA. He was ultimately assigned to the Marine Corps Base at Twenty Nine Palms, CA where he rose to the rank of Lance Corporal.
In Sept of 1957 Larry met his first wife, Eileen Fitzgerald. They were married in July of 1961 and had three children.
After leaving the Marine Corps he attended Los Angeles Valley College and then USC where he studied architecture. While going to school Larry started working for Pioneer Brokers selling real estate in Norwalk, CA in 1962.
In 1964 Larry opened his own real estate office with partner Pat Riley in Hollywood, CA. At first the small company was called O'Rourke / O'Reily Realtors. As their sales force grew, the company became known as Hollywood Properties.
In 1971 he went out on his own and formed Larry O'Rourke & Company Realtors at 1710 N. La Brea, Hollywood, CA. By 1976 he had opened a second location in Studio City, CA, 1979 a third location in Beverly Hills, CA and from 1985 to 1995 a fourth location in Newport Beach, CA. His office was a major presence in the Los Angeles real estate market from Los Feliz to Hollywood, Outpost Estates & Nichols Canyon, Sunset Plaza, Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks and Studio City. He served on the Los Angeles Board of Realtors for many years and received the honor of President in 1979. Larry also served on the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
From 1972 – 1996 he acquired and owned a successful escrow company known as Escrow Management Co. An astute property manager and income property specialist, Larry built his own personal portfolio into another separate business owned to present day. In 2011 he received the honor and title of "Realtor Emeritus" from The National Association of Realtors and "Honorary Member for Life" status from The California Association of Realtors.
In 1987 he met Dawn Smith and they were married in 1992.
Larry had a great love of boats and was an avid powerboat yachtsman for over forty years. His favorite was the 56' Cest Moi. In 1999 he received a license from the U.S. Coast Guard as a certified Captain and in 2008 received the title of a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer to pilot a vessel up to 100 gross registered tons.
He also had a great love of British and Italian marque automobiles that he shared with his two sons and daughter. Many a sunny afternoon was spent driving along Mulholland Drive in the hills above Los Angeles or by the ocean in Newport Beach and Laguna.
He also loved flying and received his pilot license in 1976. He flew a Cessna 175, 185, and a Cessna Cardinal.
He loved sharing time with his children and grandchildren. Weekends where a cherished moment to be with family and friends aboard his boat, or at a dinner gathering. Always the life of the party and the first one to congratulate a family member or friend on a recent accomplishment, his smile lit up the room. His enthusiasm and drive was enormous. He was an inspiration to absolutely "dozens" of people to make their lives better and reach their goals.
He is survived by his wife Dawn O'Rourke, her father Bill and mother Roslyn, her sister Cheri and husband Russell. His first wife Eileen O'Rourke and their three children: Larry O'Rourke III and his wife Carolyn; Thomas O'Rourke, his wife Mary and their three children T.J., Christopher, and Ryan; his daughter, Karen O'Rourke Haney, her husband Brad and their two girls Lauren and Amelia; his sister, Ayeesha Rees and his two nieces Courtney Rees, Rene Rees Garrett, her husband Randy and daughter Megan.
Services will be held at San Juan Capistrano Mission Basilica on Wednesday December 10, 2014 at 11:30am. Burial immediately following at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar, CA.
Please join us in remembering Larry and view the McCormick & Son Video Tribute (please click on the link below to view) and share your thoughts and fond memories with our family below.
http://videos.lifetributes.com/546793
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lawrence "Larry" O'Rourke,, please visit our flower store.
Lawrence "Larry" O'Rourke,'s Guestbook
Visits: 1
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors