Obituary of Laurence W. Helweg Jr

Laurence W. Helweg, Jr., age 83, passed away December 8, 2020 at Vassar Brothers Hospital,  He was born August 19, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Laurence W. Helweg, Sr. and Elizabeth Miller-Helweg.  After high school, he joined the US Navy, serving in the 4h Naval District as a radarman from September, 1954 to July, 1958 during wartime.  He served on the USS Willis and ended his duty serving on the USS Smalley.  
After his service, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts where he met and married Margaret Rita Conneely, his Galway Girl, the love of his life on February 25, 1958, which began  a journey of many adventures and beautiful memories that, in his own words ‘was a wonderful and blessed life’.
His post-war career started with work at RCA, assisting in space satellite technology and moved onto becoming a vacuum engineer specialist for IBM, eventually becoming a major influence in producing and teaching in the vacuum technology field. He later would create the Hi-Vacuum Technology teaching material that influenced the advancement of education that is still used today.
Larry was a great story teller, avid reader, lover of bluegrass, was an amateur ham radio fan, loved to sing karaoke, as well as a charismatic and inspiring teacher, and of course, a great lover of life.
He is predeceased by his wife, Margaret and his son, Daniel.  He is survived by Laurence W. Helweg, III, Sean Paul and his wife, Gail, grandchildren Tiffinie her husband, Timothy Sesko,  Sean Paul Jr., Michael James, granddaughter Sarah Anne,  Margaret ‘Mawky’ and her husband Alfred Nowak, Siobhan Valena and her husband Joseph Horboychuk Sr., grandsons Joseph Jr. and Shane Horboychuk, Deirdre Ann and James DeVico Sr., grandson Brogan DeVico.  He was also blessed with his five great-grandchildren, Savannah, Tehya, Ethan, Daniel and Brannah.  He leaves behind his two loving sisters, Mary Anne and Marty, nieces and nephew, Penny, Beth and Earl who survives him as well.  
His final wishes were that his ashes be brought to Galway, Eire to be cast in Galway Bay just as his wife Margaret and his son Danny.  
We will be celebrating his life with a ceremony in the spring of 2020 and the date is yet to be determined.  Unfortunately, it's heartbreaking for us to not be able to celebrate Dad's passing as we would want due to the unfortunate pandemic we all find ourselves struggling with today and each and everyone of us appreciate and hold dear all of your sympathy and heart-felt wishes and condolences.  He will be missed so very much by all of us.  Love to you all.  God bless and stay safe