Obituary of Lawrence J. McDermott

Larry “Duke” McDermott Motel Owner, Pilot, Aerial Photographer Mr. McDermott was born in Newark. He lived in Belleville and attended St. Peter’s School and Belleville High School. He was a Staff Sgt. In the Army in WW II. Infantry trained he was transferred to ComZ Headquarters in Le Harve, France and his Commanding Officers Colonel A.C. Ott and Major James Pierce established the first area Area Command Headquarters in Charleroi, Belgium December of 1944 shortly before the Battle of the Bulge. During that time he lived with a Belgian family named Heusdain with whom he formed a lifelong relationship along with a deep admiration for Belgium and its people. At the War’s end in Europe the Area Headquarterswas closed and transferred to an Ordanance Base Depot in La Louviere, Belgium where he served as their Chief Statistical Clerk until returning home. After the War he met and married the love of his life, his late beloved wife Catherine Maughan of Newark. He moved to Parsippany and with his late brother Thomas operated the White Deer Motel for many years. Mr. McDermott was a licensed pilot and aerial photographer along with being an accomplished wood craftsman. He was an usher for many years at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Mountain Lakes and earlier a lunch assistant at. St. Mary’s School in Denville, NJ. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW and Disabled American Veterans. Surviving are his loving daughter Theresa Siegel, sons, William and Ann Marie, Lawrence Jr. and Diane, and Patrick and Marie, and his loving grandchildren Lauren and Janna Siegel, Patrick and Elena McDermott and Steven and Allison McDermott. He was predeceased by his parents William and Alice McDermott and his sisters-in-law Margaret and Theresa Maughan. The funeral will be conducted from Norman Dean Home for Services 16 Righter Ave., Denville, NJ on Monday July 15th at 8:45am for a 10am Mass of Christian Burial services at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Mountain Lakes, NJ. Realtives and friends will be received on Sunday July 14th at the funeral home from 2-5pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to Wounded Warriors. Please share a memory of Larry at www.normandean.com.