AQUINO, Larry
Larry Brian Augustine Aquino Coach, Educator and Theatre Impresario, Larry Aquino died on January 10, 2016 at Temiskaming Hospital in New Liskeard, Ontario after a battle with cancer. Born in Belleville, Ontario on August 15, 1944, he grew up in the village of Batawa, hanging from the willow trees, swimming across the Trent River and reluctantly practicing the piano. He attended the University of Western Ontario and McMaster University where he studied English, Phys. Ed. and education. It was at Western that Larry met his wife of 48 years, Diane (nee Smith). She began by typing his essays but their life together went on to include three children: Eileen Aitchison (Stephen), Paul Aquino (Lisa), Melanie Ducharme (Marc), and seven grand children; Josh, Chris, and Andrew Aitchison, Melina and Matteo Aquino, and Madeleine and Isabelle Ducharme. Diane and Larry were partners in golf, travel, bridge and, of course, life. He is also survived by his mother Melina Aquino (nee Gosselin), his brother Tom Aquino (Suzanne), his sister Anne Marie Aquino-Coward (Bruce), his sister-in-law Linda Perlick and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his father John Aquino and brother Gary Aquino. Larry followed his brother Gary to Northern Ontario in 1968 where he spent two decades as a coach, Phys.Ed teacher and guidance counselor at Englehart High School. At Temiskaming District Secondary School he taught adult education in the Gateway program and finished his career as a principal in Moose Factory and Bear Island. He was a true coach, always cheering on his athletes and students from the sidelines. His countless stories of football practices, track meets, basketball games, and surprise encounters with former students, brought a smile to his face with each retelling. Larry was committed to public education, serving as District Provincial Councillor and District President of OSSTF for many years. He believed that teacher’s unions are one of the last bastions protecting our public education system and fought tirelessly for students. His efforts led him to chair the OSSTF Provincial Collective Bargaining Committee. In high school, Larry joined the cast of Annie Get Your Gun. Originally a ploy to meet girls, it had the unexpected side effect of kindling a lifelong love of theatre. In 1994, when Cobalt decided to renovate their old vaudeville house and open a live theatre, Larry had found a project that captured all of his passion and drive for over a decade. Larry volunteered tirelessly, directing plays, fundraising and sourcing new acts. He loved showing off this little gem of a theatre to visiting artists and musicians and bragging about it to other theatre managers across Canada. He was named an Honourary Citizen of the Town of Cobalt and in 2000 was awarded the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation’s Outstanding Achievement Awards for voluntarism in Ontario. Whether he was coaching track and field, directing a play, growing tomatoes with his grandchildren, enjoying his view of Lake Temiskaming, or living the life of a snowbird, he will be remembered for his loud voice, dislike of onions, warm heart, uncanny deal-finding skills and most of all, his ability to always find the laughs. Visitations will be held at Perrin Funeral Chapel in New Liskeard on Friday, January 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at Our Mother Perpetual Help Catholic Church in New Liskeard on Saturday, January 16 at 1 p.m. Instead of flowers, donations to the Classic Theatre in Larry’s memory would be greatly appreciated.
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