Lawrence “Larry” Doll
December 4, 1969 – August 17, 2025
“What’s this, Larry?” they asked, holding a photo before him.
“The greatest invention of all time,” he replied.
We didn’t see him don his cycling cap or hear him rotate the tensioner on his bike cleats, but we felt the calm steady pressure of his palm on our backs as we began to climb the hill.
“I’ll ride this part with you,” he said.
“Don’t wait for us; we don’t want to keep you,” we protested.
“OK,” Larry grinned. “I’ll be just around this bend. I’ll wait for you there.”
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Lawrence Patrick Doll (Larry) was born in Bethesda Naval Hospital on December 4, 1969 and soon graced the cover of the hospital magazine’s New Year edition. He took on all the best qualities of a Navy kid: adaptability, quick to make and keep friends, and he set the standard for 70s and 80s childhood shenanigans.
Larry attended Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley, California and received his diploma from Principia Upper School in Saint Louis, Missouri in 1987. A lover of words, poetry, and music, Larry studied English Literature at the University of Washington, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts.
While at the University of Washington and working as a barista at the (then) only Starbucks in University Village, Larry met his wife and teammate for life, Ann Perry Doll, who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Resuscitation Academy Foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Their son, Declan Patrick Doll, born in 2002, immediately and easily became the first adored nephew of Larry’s three siblings.
Larry and Ann traveled the world as part of the resuscitation community, teaching and learning in Australia, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and Scotland. They cheered on the Australian national cricket team and looked forward to traveling to this year’s Ashes match against England.
Larry rode through life at a steady cadence and with determination to squeeze all the juice from each day. Dad, husband, brother, son, cousin, uncle, ragtag cyclocross racer, confidante, traveler, coffee lover, jujitsu scrapper, raconteur, medic, lifesaver, life giver. Larry was all of these.
Larry joined the Seattle Fire Department in 2006 as a member of Recruit Class 91, and joined the Medic One Program in 2012. Before joining the Seattle Fire Department, Larry served the people of the region through his work as a volunteer and then a medical assistant in the Burn ICU at Harborview Medical Center.
Larry dedicated 19 years of his life to serving the Seattle community and volunteered for teams providing relief to hurricane and earthquake victims in the U.S. and in Haiti. Larry also served our nation as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Larry passed away Sunday August 17, 2025 at the age of 55 after an unexpected medical emergency. His gift of life continues as his lungs, kidneys and liver find their homes in others.
Larry is survived by his wife Ann Perry Doll and son Declan Patrick Doll, his parents Captain Robert (Bob) Doll (Ret., USN) and Andrea Doll, sister Kathleen Doll Kapla, and brothers Brad Doll and Ross Doll. He will be missed by their spouses and families and by his wife’s mother, Marilyn Perry, brother Steve Perry (King County Medic One, Ret.) and their families. Larry loved his three nieces and six nephews.
A memorial was held on Wednesday, Aug 27 at 11:00 a.m., Shriner’s Nile Golf Course, 6601 – 244th St SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that you consider a donation to the Larry Doll Educational Fund at the Resuscitation Academy or Bike Works.
Larry: We know you’re just around the corner; pulling for us to pedal hard but not miss the smell of the ocean air, the cedar and warm gravel in the sun; and the memory of your palm on our backs. We will see you around the bend.
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Messenger
by Mary Oliver
My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird— equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.
Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be
astonished.
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,
which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart
and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,
telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.
~ “Messenger” by Mary Oliver, from Thirst
© Mary Oliver