The McDougald Funeral Home2211 North Main StreetAnderson, SC 29621864-224-4343OBITUARYFLAG MR. EDWARD JOHN LAARI August 20, 1930- November 4, 2007ANDERSON, SCMr. Edward John Laari, age 77, died at Hospice of the Upstate, Sunday, November 4, 2007.He was born in New York City, NY, August 20, 1930. Ed was the son of John and Ellen Laari, who had recently immigrated from Helsinki, Finland. He attended schools in Manhattan and graduated from Stuyvesant High School and New York City University with a Master's Degree in business. For many years, he was associated with Mutual of New York (M.O.N.Y.) Insurance Company and later with Hartford Insurance. Ed was active in the Finlandia Foundation and the Scandinavian Club, where he enjoyed dancing the native dances of Finland, (and later square and round dancing with his wife). He was an avid bridge player and also enjoyed wicked games of chess and billiards. Swimming was his sport of choice. Summer vacations during college found him working as a lifeguard at Coney Island. He assisted wounded veterans, carrying paraplegic soldiers to the ocean for water therapy. Ed was a veteran himself and served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. For one of his tours of duty, he was stationed at Donaldson Air Force Base in Greenville, SC. He was currently a member of the American Legion Post #14 in Anderson. He served on the committee to build a Finnish Nationality Room at the University of Pittsburgh. This will join the other nationality rooms that circle the base of the Cathedral of Learning at Pittsburgh. He was also a member of Lee Iacoca's drive to restore the Statue of Liberty. As part of this work, his parents' names are engraved on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor at Ellis Island. He and his wife are members of Central Presbyterian Church in Anderson. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Barbara Nordeck Laari of Anderson; his son, Stephen Jeffrey Laari of Bowie, Maryland; his daughter, Jody Mills and her husband, Giles Mills III; and his four grandsons, Jonathan Scott Mills, Christopher James Mills, Benjamin David Mills and Samuel Paul Mills all of Hanover, Maryland, and many cousins and relatives in Finland.A private family service and interment will be done in Maryland.Ed loved Anderson and found his eleven years as a resident here a joy.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any contributions be made to the Anderson Animal Shelter (SPCA), P.O. Box 8002, Anderson, SC 29622.PAGE TWO A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visitingwww.mcdougaldfuneralhome.comThe McDougald Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.