Mr. Lawrence S. Stepanowicz, 78, of Schuyler, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

   Lawrence was born in Utica, on March 31, 1947, the son of Joseph and Gladys Helen (Czochanski) Stepanowicz. He was raised locally, was a graduate of Whitesboro High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Utica College. Lawrence proudly served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. He was assigned to the Army Aviation Unit out of Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon as a photographer. On February 18, 1984, Lawrence was united in marriage with Cynthia (Douglas) Smither, a loving and devoted union of 27 years, until Cynthia’s death in 2011. He was a professional photographer with some of his pictures appearing in textbooks and magazines. Lawrence was a highly intelligent gentleman who had a profound love of dogs, especially German Shepards as well as a love for gardening, often canning the fruits of his labor. When his beloved wife Cynthia became ill, Lawrence selflessly put his life on hold to lovingly and tenderly care for her for over ten years. She was the love of his life.

  Mr. Stepanowicz is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Monica Rose and Michael Sharma of Farmers Branch, TX; son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Sara Smither of Southport, NC; five cherished grandchildren, Theresa, Benjamin, Emma, Katherine and Andrew; one sister, Therese “Teri” Murphy of Fort Myers, FL; and one brother, Thomas Stepanowicz of Marcy, NY. Besides his beloved wife, Cynthia and parents, Joseph and Gladys, Lawrence was predeceased by his cherished grandson, Samuel.

    Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to Lawrence’s memorial Mass of Christian burial on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mark’s Church, 440 Keyes Rd., N. Utica. He will be laid to rest with his wife Cynthia in St. John’s Cemetery in Newport, NY.

    Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Heintz Funeral Service, Inc., N. Utica.