Dr. Lawrence R. Whiting

PAXTON - Dr. Lawrence R. Whiting, 73, passed away very peacefully on June 4, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. He is the beloved husband of Stephanie V. (Compitello) Whiting, with whom he has shared 9 years of marriage.

Born in Springfield, Larry was the third of four children born to Dr. Lewis Wood Whiting and Esther (Johnson) Whiting. He graduated in 1971 from The Cambridge School of Weston in Weston, MA. He then attended the University of Massachusetts graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of the prestigious engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi. Larry began his engineering career at The Torrington Company in 1977. He completed the company's highly regarded two-year sales training program, spending a year in Torrington, Connecticut, and a year in South Bend, Indiana. Following the program, he served as a District Sales Engineer in The Torrington Company's New York office, where he combined his technical expertise with a talent for building strong professional relationships. Throughout his engineering career, Larry was respected for his knowledge, dedication, and commitment to excellence.

Larry eventually answered a deeper calling to medicine, inspired by his father, a surgeon. Determined to follow in his father's footsteps, he applied to only one medical school, UMass Medical School. He earned his M.D. in 1988 and went on to build a distinguished career in both Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine. In addition to caring for countless patients, he served as an affiliate in medicine with the UMass Medical School faculty, reflecting his ongoing commitment to the advancement of medical education and patient care.

A deep thinker and gifted conversationalist, Larry remained both humble and confident, possessing a rare ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Curious by nature, he never stopped learning and was deeply interested in his ancestral history, tracing his family genealogy back hundreds of years. Lovingly described as a "Renaissance man", Larry was skilled in woodworking, painting, baking, and writing, among many other interests. Above all, he was an avid Harley Davidson rider and enthusiast. He would modify bikes for performance and began drag racing with his team, V-Tec, participating in races as south as Florida, and as far west as Ohio.

Larry proudly participated in nine Pan-Mass Challenge rides, raising more than $50,000 in support of cancer research and treatment. A man of remarkable intellect, boundless curiosity, and generous spirit, Larry enriched the lives of all who knew him. His warmth, wisdom, and enthusiasm for life will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by family, friends, colleagues, and patients alike.

Along with his wife Stephanie, Larry is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Whiting Dumas and her husband Zach of Paxton, his son Jonathan Whiting of Concord; his adored granddaughter Robin Dumas; his siblings, Carolyn Whiting, Joanne Fortin, and Barbara Drew and her husband Scott; several nieces and nephews; and his best friends Paul Gregoire, Bruce Whipple, Robert Friesen, and John Compitello.

Family and friends are kindly invited to celebrate Larry's life at calling hours on Thursday, June 11th from 4:00 - 6:00 PM followed by a funeral service at 6:00 PM at Miles Funeral Home in Holden. He will be laid to rest privately in Rural Cemetery in Rutland at the convenience of his family.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Larry's memory may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support pancreatic cancer research and patient care at:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
P.O. Box 849168
Boston, MA 02284
or via dana-farber.org/gift.

To leave a message or share a memory please visit www.milesfuneralhome.com