JOSEPH PATRICK LAWLOR, Jr., 87

WINTER HAVEN, FL - Joseph Patrick Lawlor Jr., language and communications educator, and founder of The Ballet Conservatory-Dance Centre in Winter Haven, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Saturday November 24th, 2012 in Winter Haven, Florida due to respiratory failure.
Joseph was born in Memphis, Tennessee on October 17th, 1925 to Joseph and Lorretto Lawlor. Joseph graduated from Loras College in Debuque, Iowa and received his Masters Degree in Spanish and Portuguese from the University of Iowa. He moved to Lake Forest, Illinois where he taught Languages and Telecommunications at Lake Forest High School for 30 years. While in Lake Forest, Illinois, he married ballet dancer Pirkko Sirén from Finland. They had three children. He moved to Winter Haven, Florida in 1981 and along with his wife Pirkko founded the Ballet Conservatory-Dance Centre in Winter Haven in 1983. Joseph traveled the world extensively. In 1996, Joseph and his wife Pirkko received the Key To The City of Winter Haven for their outstanding work in foreign cultural exchange. Joseph was an inspiring force within the Arts Community. His desire to promote the Cultural Arts was deeply shared by his wife and children.
Joseph is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Pirkko Lawlor, a daughter Erika Schmidt (Gary) of Pawlet, Vermont, two sons, Kaarlo Lawlor (Leena) and Michael Lawlor (Jann) of Winter Haven, eight grandchildren, Kiira and Eva Schmidt, Mari, Anna, Krister, Sean, Joseph III, and David Lawlor, two brothers, Conrad and Leo Lawlor.