Lawrence “Larry” L. McGee age 81 of Port Charlotte passed away on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Marie McGee, brother Thomas, sisters Jean McIntyre, Marianne Petruccelli and his son Danny. He is survived by his daughter Cindy McGee and son, Brett McGee (Pinar), his grandchildren Rory and Sena, many nephews and nieces who dearly loved him and his rubber chickens. Also, his dear friend and mother of his children Phyllis Warrow.

Everyone’s favorite “Uncle,” Larry provided family, friends, and many unwitting strangers, moments of laughter and joy with his antics, jokes, costumes, and performances of all kinds. Kids of all ages enjoyed his magic coloring book, invisible dog on a leash, and enormous collection of hats. His quintessential full-regalia Santa Claus will be greatly missed this Christmas as well as his spirit of service. The family is grateful for the many memories of fun times with him.

Larry was born in Davenport, Iowa November 15, 1943. He graduated from Notre Dame high school in Niles, Illinois after attending Benet Academy in Lisle, Illinois. Larry lived in Clarendon Hills and Mount Prospect, Illinois before moving to Pontiac and Clarkston, Michigan in 1967. He worked for the American Red Cross for 28 years as a social worker, disaster worker, blood donor recruiter, and as a National field Manager for Michigan. He then moved to Sarasota and Port Charlotte where he continued working with the Salvation Army as a homeless shelter manager and a probation officer. He also was employed as a Child Abuse Investigator with the State of Florida. He attended seven different universities obtaining his B.A. Degree in Philosophy with honors from Xavier University in 1967. While a student, he was a deejay for the campus radio station and editor-in-chief of the 1966 yearbook, The Musketeer. Recently he had been enjoying “performing” with Writers’ On The Air at WKDW, 97.5 FM in Northport and entertaining at Vel Gardens where he lived.

Larry had been very active in the Heritage Oak Park community where he lived previously for 16 years, enjoying the many activities with his friends and neighbors. He was also involved with his previous parish St. Maximilian Kolbe where he was a lector, on the Peace and Justice commission, Bible Study group, and the Knights of Columbus. His recent parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church welcomed him as a valued member who could always be counted on for an apropos outfit fitting the time of the year; the children especially enjoyed his Easter bunny. He was a member of Kiwanis and Elks and volunteered at the local nursing home and hospital. Larry was also involved with the Peace Movement and a member of the Sierra Club and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

He was active in promoting the integration of the schools in Pontiac, Michigan where he assisted in establishing a food and clothing agency for the poor and the Catholic Chaplaincy program at the county jail. He was a board member of Pontiac General Hospital. Larry was a founding member and vice-president of the Pontiac Citizens Coalition of white, black and latino citizens which fought “red-lining” by local banks.

Larry thoroughly enjoyed playing Santa Claus for the past 49 years. He did a brief stint of stand-up comedy appearing in a small venue in Michigan where Tim Allen was just beginning his career. He appeared in a TV commercial and acted with Gil Hill of Beverly Hills Cop in a play benefiting a domestic abuse shelter. He has been Santa and the Easter Bunny at soup kitchens, churches, community centers, and even showed up at the airport in full Santa regalia to pick up his kids several times. He was a community theatre actor in Clarkston and Grand Haven, Michigan and then in Bradenton, Englewood and Port Charlotte, Florida appearing in over 30 plays. He directed and produced the local one-man Harry Truman show “Give ‘Em Hell Harry” which made appearances throughout southwest Florida including the prestigious Cook Theatre in Sarasota. It was to be presented at the Truman Presidential Library in Missouri. He recently became an author with the publishing of his book “Memoirs Of An Uncle Who Loves Rubber Chickens”

Donations in Larry’s memory may be made to any of his favorite charities: American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Indian College Fund, Doctors Without Borders, Sojourners, C.A.R.E., Southern Poverty Law Center, Lemon Bay Playhouse, Charlotte Players.

Visitation and viewing will be held Wednesday, December 11th, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. and from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Roberson Funeral Home, 2151 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, Florida 33948. A Funeral Mass celebrating Larry’s life will be held on Thursday December 12, 2024, 1:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 211 West Charlotte Ave., Punta Gorda, Florida.