Eldest son of public relations executive dies in Orlando
Larry Marc Epstein, son of Barry Epstein, died in his sleep Nov. 1 in Orlando of a heart condition. He would have been 46 on Nov. 28. A graduate of Boone High School in Orlando, he graduated from the University of Miami with a business degree. A cartographer by profession, he worked at Dolph Map Company in Fort Lauderdale and later at Universal Map Company in Orlando, before starting his own business with his partner Lance Fraker, GIS Cartography and Publishing Services, LLC.
Larry Epstein
Larry Epstein’s passion for maps started when he was 5 years old, by collecting maps his father and grandfather would bring home from business trips or vacations. A graduate of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida with a degree in Business Administration, Larry began his career and experience in the mapping industry with a summer position at the Broward County, Florida, Publications office. This office produced the street maps for county emergency managers, 9-1-1, fire and sheriff’s offices.
During his 27 years in the public and private sector of the map industry he learned the fundamental elements of cartography including map research, compilation, drafting, editing, map layout, etc. He has been involved with the technological change of the map industry from the “old school” hand-drawn maps to the “new school” digital map era.
His hobby was to be in every county in the United States and he was 87% done, recently going to Hawaii to pick up those counties. He had some in Alaska and the tip of Maine to complete, along with a few in the Midwest. It was announced at his funeral that his friends were going to complete his project, dividing up the counties amongst them and setting up an email, counties4larry@gmail.com.
He founded and was the president of the Central Florida Cleveland Browns Fan Club and built the membership up to over 1,000, many of which met at a local facility every Sunday. Some have said Larry had a hand in the Browns recent upset over the New England Patriots. He was also a rabid fan of his Alma Mater, the University of Miami Hurricanes, who also won their game Saturday.
Services were held in Orlando and a celebration of his life will be held Dec. 4, for those who were unable to attend the funeral on such short notice.
He is survived by his father Barry Epstein, step-mother Joanne Epstein, step-brother Jaret Epstein, nephews Mark and Ryan Connell and myriads of friends.
Donations in memory of Larry Epstein can be made to: the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine P.O. Box 016960 (R-125) Biomedical Research Building 1501 N.W. 10 Avenue, Suite 818, Miami, Florida 33136 Memo section: In memory of Larry Epstein. -30-
