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The passing of Lawrence Richard Ahern III (Larry) on March 18 was a personal loss of a best friend, and for bankruptcy professionals it was a loss of a friend, mentor, author, teacher and trusted colleague. Larry’s professional contributions to bankruptcy went beyond being an excellent attorney. He was active in research, writing and continuing education to the last week of his life, when he submitted a draft of materials for an upcoming bankruptcy seminar.
To those who knew Larry, it would be no surprise that he continued to be involved in legal education, because Larry was at his best as a teacher. His expertise included a wide range of bankruptcy and commercial law issues. As an author, his subjects included rules of procedure, impacts of environmental law and bankruptcy, secured transactions, and real estate law. But he was not an author separated from the practical world of commercial and bankruptcy law: he was always prepared to discuss an example of bankruptcy practices or procedures as a teaching moment. .
I first got to know Larry by presentations with him in seminars across Tennessee and other states. Our friendship developed into a consulting practice together after he retired from “big law firm” practice in 2013. Although we worked together as co-authors on several publications, we often discussed how long we would continue on projects for which the hourly compensation was minimal, and Larry’s comment was consistent—he enjoyed working together. That also explains why he would be working on seminar materials toward the close of his life—he enjoyed working with other professionals.
Larry’s interaction with other professionals was an expression of his regard for the contributions of others to the improvement of bankruptcy practice. And his work with others was an expression of the friendships he held with professionals across the country.
At a recent lunch, Larry talked about his young son asking about the meaning of friendship and being a best friend. Larry’s life, professional and personal, is its own answer to that question, because he provided an example of friendship and regard for the importance of other people in his life. Larry’s professional contributions to the world of bankruptcy are significant, but his respect for other people and their friendship is most significant. Larry is missed by everyone who knew and worked with him.
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