Obituary of Mr. Lawrence Blackmore
Lawrence “Lorenzo” Blackmore died peacefully in his home in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada on Holy Thursday, March 28, at 3:05 pm. His wife, Claire, and daughter, Laurel, held Lawrence’s hands as he took his last breath.
Born in Georgetown, Guyana, South America, on Saturday, September 11, 1943, to Olive Vergilia Blackmore (née Joseph) and Bertrand McDonald Dempster Blackmore, Lawrence was the fifth of 10 children.
During the vibrant 1970s, Lawrence’s talent as a recording engineer shone brightly as he worked on the Ministry of Education’s radio programme, Broadcasts to Schools. His deep love for music also led Lawrence to produce a plethora of captivating programmes for the Guyana Broadcasting Service (GBS), including GBS Roundabout, Rolling Home, Sounds Caribbean, and Back to Work.
After leaving Guyana in September 1973, Lawrence married Claire Nichols in Toronto, Canada. The couple soon welcomed their son, Nicolas, and daughter, Laurel. Lawrence’s passion for music continued in Canada, where he deejayed family and friends' parties. Eventually, his aspirations translated into a career as a record press engineer at Quality Records. Lawrence also held positions at National Business Systems (NBS), Cinram, Metaca Corporation, and G+D.
Throughout his life, Lawrence was the embodiment of “cool,” with his unique sense of style and his encyclopedic knowledge of music. His extensive library, filled with vinyl, CDs, and cassettes, was a testament to his diverse taste. It spanned a multitude of genres, from jazz and soul to R&B and beyond. Lawrence’s musical wisdom was a treasure he shared generously, enriching the lives of his children, grandchildren, and everyone fortunate enough to converse with him.
In-depth talks were one of Lawrence’s most cherished joys, and they went well beyond music. You’d often find Lawrence engaged in discussions about politics, global affairs, and sports — particularly soccer. Everyone who knew him valued Lawrence’s worldly perspective. Friends and family describe him as wise, funny, strong, and thoughtful.
Lawrence is survived by his wife of 50 and a half years, Claire Blackmore; son Nicolas, daughter-in-law Tracy, and grandson Gabriel; daughter Laurel and grandchildren Revaya, Sonaya, and Michael; siblings Cedric, Patricia, Marie, Gordon, Monty, Claire, and Mervin; sisters-in-law Desiree, Daunne, Deborah and brothers-in-law Francis, Jerome; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many devoted friends.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Kidney Foundation of Canada www.kidney.ca or Society of St. Vincent de Paul at www.svdptoronto.org Tel: (647) 772-1319 or any organization working directly with the poor.
