Larry Elder Hare

Larry Elder Hare, 87, of Gainesville, Florida, formerly of Westminster, Maryland, passed away surrounded by his loving family on September 18, 2023 in Gainesville, Florida. Born April 3, 1936, in Frizzellburg, MD, he was the son of the late Elder Jesse William Hare and Dorothy Virginia Myers Hare.  

He was a 1954 graduate of Westminster High School and attended Western Maryland College and the University of Maryland.  He was a four-year military veteran of the United States Air Force having served in the Eighth Air Force, Strategic Air Command.  He served as a police officer with the Baltimore City Police Department for 3 years prior to joining Bendix Field Engineering Corporation, Owings Mills, MD in 1962.  He served as Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations for Allied-Signal Aerospace Co., Columbia, MD. In 1990 he retired and moved to Florida and continued representing Allied-Signal Aerospace as a communications and public relations consultant at Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL supporting NASA’s Space Shuttle Program until 1998.

He was an avid runner for over 35 years (plus) having completed 41 marathons (26.2 mile distance) and various other distance running events throughout the United States including Hawaii.  His running progress and athletic accomplishments over the years were documented in numerous local news articles in Maryland and Florida including a feature article with photo in the August 1982 issue of RUNNERS’ WORLD magazine.

He was a “Benefactor” Life Member of the National Rifle Association from 1968 and a member of the Gainesville Target Range where he enjoyed firearms training and shooting competitions with his grandson, Tony Mazza, and greatly enjoyed watching his grandsons career in the firearms industry flourish.

His Masonic affiliations included a sixty-year (plus) member of Door To Virtue Lodge No. 46, AF&AM, Westminster, MD awarded October 27. 2010; 32 degree Scottish Rite Freemason, Valley of Baltimore, Orient of Maryland;  member of Boumi Shriners, Baltimore, MD.; member of Western Maryland Shrine Club; and Life member of The Bee Hive Club, Westminster, MD.

He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Westminster, MD before moving to Florida. Upon moving to Florida he became a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Gainesville, FL.

He cherished spending time with his grandchildren, Tony and Claire Mazza. He wished dearly to see Claire graduate from sonography school and Tony graduate from law school. He prided himself in their outstanding academic accomplishments and burgeoning career paths. 

Surviving are his loving daughter, Jennifer Hare Mazza Adams; grandchildren Anthony (Tony) Francis Mazza III and Claire Jessie Mazza. Son and daughter-in-law Patrick Elder and Laura Carter Hare, doting former wife Jeanette England. Brother and sister-in-law Gregory Keith and Doris Armacost Hare. Sister and brother-in-law Diane Dorothy Hare and John (Jack) Cooper. And numerous nephews and nieces. Along with countless friends he made along the way.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00AM,October 7, 2023 at Trinity United Methodist Church Chapel in Gainesville, FL. The Interment will be at Meadow Branch Cemetery, Westminster, MD at a later date.

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