Captain Larry E. Kaufman, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Captain Larry E. Kaufman, U.S. Navy (Ret.), age 81, of Bluffton, SC died Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at his home. Captain Kaufman was born on April 13, 1936 in Tamaqua, PA, the son of the late Edward and Anna Kaufman. He began his formal education at Wyoming Seminary and continued to the United States Naval Academy where he graduated in 1958. While attending the Academy he played football until an early knee injury put him on the sidelines; then he took to the track and field and lettered three of the four years. His overall athleticism earned him a spot in the Carbon County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. After graduating from the Academy, he earned his master degree in physics in Monterey, CA. Larry was a 30 year veteran of the United States Navy rising to the rank of Captain. During his distinguished military tenure he served three tours in Vietnam as an attack pilot and was a recipient of many service and commendation medals to include but not limited to the Gallantry Cross; Meritorious Service; Navy Commendation; Air Medal; Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. Larry served as program manager and was awarded the Daedalian Weapon System Award on behalf of the High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) project in 1983. Following his honorable discharge he worked with Sherikon Inc, retiring as Vice President in Northern Virginia. Larry was preceded in death by his first wife of 25 years, Mary Ann Kaufman (1983). He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Sylvia Lesiak Kaufman; children, Regina Naugle (Matthew), Todd Kaufman (Carolyn), Michelle Kaufman (Jim Carr), and Steven Lesiak; and grandchildren, Bryan, Courtney, and Lauren Naugle, Kyle and Michael Kaufman, Samantha Carr, and Alexandria Ladlee. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 3, 2017, at Church of the Palms, 1425 Okatie Highway, Okatie, SC 29909. A funeral service with full military honors will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to either Church of the Palms Building Fund, www.palmsumc.org, 1425 Okatie Highway, Okatie, SC 29909.