Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran

Vincent G. Laurita

April 16, 1924 - March 24, 2001

Mr. Vincent G. Laurita, 76, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and formerly of South Bend, Ind., died after a lengthy illness on Saturday, March 24, in the Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, Myrtle Beach.

Mr. Laurita was born on April 16, 1924, in Queens, N.Y., a son of the late Salvatore and Irene Laurita. He held an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master's degree from Columbia University. Mr. Laurita worked for the South Bend Community School Corporation as a school teacher and football coach from 1952 until 1972. He retired from the United States Navy as a lieutenant commander in 1978 after an active duty tour in the Pacific during World War II, with 26 years ready reserve duty, and four years as liaison and recruiting coordinator for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Mr. Laurita is survived by his wife, Maryellen "Jackie" Laurita; three sons, Vince Laurita of Atlanta, Ga., Kevin Laurita of Myrtle Beach and Kenneth Laurita of Niles, Mich.; three daughters, Susan Laurita of South Bend, Kim Storm of Elkhart, Ind., and Nancy Laurita of Boise, Idaho; and by 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services and burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 6, 2001. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, in Saint Monica's Catholic Church, Mishawaka, Ind.