Roland L. Laramie

Roland L. Laramie, 92, passed away on November 21, 2019, at Vanderman Place in Willimantic.  He was born to parents Frederick R. and Yvonne C. (Pepin) Laramie on July 6, 1927.  He resided in Willimantic, and for a time in Columbia, his entire life.  Roland graduated from Windham High School and served in the U.S. Army upon graduation, where he participated in Operation Deep Freeze in Alaska.  Roland was a photographer and owned Laramie Photography, previously Dinneen Studio, which was first established in 1917.  He was awarded the Master of Photography, Photographic Craftsman degrees from the Professional Photographers of America. He photographed most of the weddings and many portraits of the people in the area for over 50 years. Roland was the Executive Director of the Professional Photographers Association of New England (PPANE) from 1983 - 2008. Roland served in many volunteer positions throughout his life.  He was President of the Connecticut Professional Photographers 1965-1967, President of PPANE in 1974, President of the American Society of Photographers in 1977, and President of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) in 1988.  He was an instructor for the Winona School of Photography, and was photographic jury chairman for PPA for many years.  In 2009, he received lifetime achievement award from the Connecticut Professional Photographers Association. 

He served as President or Chair of the Columbia Red Cross, the Columbia Lions Club and the Columbia Recreation Council.  He was an Eagle Scout, and served in various positions in scouting for 40 years, including Cub Master of the Columbia Cub Pack 62 and President of the Indian Trails Council, BSA, in 1978.  He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award for service to boyhood in 1972.  Roland was a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Norwich, where he served on the Church Council for a number of years.Roland is pre-deceased by his wife Helen C. (Yonclas) Laramie.  They were married for 66 years and he missed her dearly after her passing.  He is survived by his daughters Pamela and her wife Constance, Gina (Laramie) Maltas and her husband Vasilios Maltas, and his son Gregory and his wife Laura, as well as his three grandchildren: Amanda Laramie, Benjamin Laramie and Eleni Maltas.

Roland was a kind and practical man. People admired his sense of organization. He once said that the thing he was most thankful for was being able to help his kids with the numerous house projects they all undertook.  He was always volunteering to help out.  His character and his life are to be admired.

A funeral service will be held at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 247 Washington Street, Norwich, CT, on Tuesday, November 26 at 10:30 AM.  Burial will be private.  There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to Vanderman Place, Willimantic, Connecticut. To sign the online memorial guestbook please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.

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