Lawrence John Hitch II ¹

Madison - Lawrence Hitch passed away on February 15, 2019 at Heritage Memory Care in Middleton, Wisconsin. Larry was born on January 10, 1941, in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Garfield Heights High School and went on to Kent State University earning his undergraduate degree in English/Education. He earned his master's degree in English with an assistantship from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. While working on his PhD at Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti, Larry decided to make some life changes. He and Alan Rosenblum opened Lafayette Electronics in Madison. This move evolved into the birth of Larry's company, Madisound, a successful speaker and electronics business that is still in operation. Larry traveled the world with his company. He became a "captain" of the industry, a name that Larry got a kick out of using. Larry had two children. He married his second wife, Vivian, in 2012. Music, art, travel, nature, cars and literature were all interests of Larry, and he has visited art museums all over the world. He was a generous philanthropist, donating to a variety of charities. Larry is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Rachel, and his parents, Lawrence and Viola Hitch. Larry is survived by his wife, Vivian, and her children: Joplin (Karin) Pratsch, Samuel (Camille) Pratsch, Anna Richardson, Peter Pratsch and four grandchildren, Hannah, Jade, Kylan, and Bowen; his son, Lawrence Hitch and grandson, Damien Petros; his sister, Diane (Jim) Chesko, nephews Kurt Chesko, Kent (Michelle) Chesko, and niece, Karly (Dan) Wilkins. A Celebration of Larry's life will be held at 12 Noon on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at Ryan Funeral Home, 5701 Odana Road, Madison, with a visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Donations can be made in Larry's name to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (www.oif.org) in honor of his daughter, Rachel Hitch.

Lawrence married Sandra Lynn Mousson.