I just received word that my dear friend and the longtime Grand Recorder for the Grand Commandery of the State of Indiana, Past Grand Commander Sir Knight Lawrence V. Kaminsky, passed away this morning. No details have been made available as of yet. He was a good friend and Brother to me, and his dedication to Knights Templary in Indiana will be sorely missed.
When Larry was Grand Commander back in 2005, he asked me to make a video for the Knights Templar, and the York Rite in general. "Oh," he added, "I need it in two weeks for a meeting, if you can do it." I hurriedly cobbled together a script that he approved, and managed to pull it off, and he and I became good friends after that.
He was a longtime attendee at Masonic Week in Washington every year, and many of you will have met him there. Larry had that great ability to always make you feel like he had known you for years, and was the personification of what a Brother Mason and Sir Knight is supposed to be. He always had a smile on his face, and a kind word for everyone he met. I will miss him terribly. My thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family, especially to his wife Janet.
From his bio on the Grand Commandery webpage:
Larry was born to Vincent and Mary Kaminsky in Hammond, Indiana. He has an older brother and two younger sisters.
He graduated from George Rogers Clark High School in 1959, and went to work at AMF, Junior Toy Division in Hammond while attending Purdue University Calumet. He then attended IBM school and was then employed at Hartford Insurance in Chicago. In 1963, he married Janet C. Gard. They are very proud of their four children and three grandchildren. During his career, Larry also worked at Contemporary Books, Inc., Huntington Industries, Inc. and has retired from the Quaker Oats Co. He received an Associate Degree in Management from Purdue University, Calumet; Bachelor of Arts from St. Joseph College in Management; Associate Program in Logistics Excellence at the University of Wisconsin, Madison; earned the certification as a Certified Data Processor at the Institute of Certification of Computer Professionals and is a strong advocate of higher education in all forms. He worked with the Boy Scouts of America at many levels for over 16 years and served as an assistant Chapter Advisor in Willis R. Ford, Order of DeMolay for several years.
Masonic History
Larry received his Masonic degrees in Garfield Lodge #569, Hammond, IN during 1970, served as Worshipful Master in 1981, served as assistant secretary from 1971 through 2010 and served as Treasurer for ten years. He joined the Hammond York Rite bodies in 1975 and served as High Priest in 1999, Illustrious Master 1997 and Eminent Commander in 1999. He served as Secretary/Recorder of the Hammond York Rite 2000-09. He served at the state level with the Grand Council as Group Officer for Arch 1 from 1995-1999. He started his Grand Commandery service as a Deputy Battalion Commander in Battalion 1 in 1996, was appointed as Grand Warder in 1999, elected and served as the 144th Grand Commander, Knights Templar of Indiana for the Templar year 2005-06.
Larry is a member of the following Masonic Affiliated organizations:
St. Basil Conclave Red Cross of Constantine, Puissant Sovereign (2010-11), Current Recorder
Gennesaret Tabernacle No. XVII, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, Past Preceptor (2009-10)
J. Herbert Nichols Priory No. 76 KYCH, Past Prior 2008-09
Northwest Indiana York Rite College No. 73, Past Governor 2005-06
David R. Ford No. 338 Allied Masonic Degrees, Past Sovereign Master 2003
Indiana College Masonic Societas Rosiccuriana In Civitatibus Foederatis, VII°
Coronated Inspector General Honorary, 33o; the last Degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction held in Washington, DC, August 2007.
Scottish Rectified Rite, Scottish Master of St. Andrew, Alexandria, VA, 2012
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Indianapolis Valley
Royal Order of Scotland
Scottish Rite Research Society
North Township Scottish Rite, Past President
Indiana Council of Anointed High Priests
Indiana Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters
Indiana Past Commanders Association
Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor, Pennsylvania, 2005
Yeomen of York Preceptory No.1, Past Director General 2002
Grand Preceptory Yeomen of York, Past Grand Director General 2005-07
The Masonic Society, Founding Member
Philalethes Society
High Twelve, Indianapolis
Knight Masons, Indiana Council #15
The Grand College of Rites of the USA
Griffith Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, Past Worthy Patron, 1974
Low Twelve Club, President
Lake County Masonic Angel Fund, Board Member
Larry has received the following honors:
Recipient of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Mason Secretary of the Year
Indiana Grand Council Cryptic Masons Recorder of the Year
Indiana Grand Council Cryptic Masons Illustrious Master of the Year in 1997
Grand Commandery Star Recorder of the Year
Appointed Grand Commandery Representative to the State of Michigan, near Ind.
Appointed Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Indiana to South Carolina
Knight York Cross of Honor
Knight York Grand Cross of Honor with one quadrant
York Rite Sovereign College of North America, Award of Gold
York Rite Sovereign College of North America, Order of the Purple Cross
York Rite Sovereign College of North America, Associate Regent
York Rite Sovereign College of North America, Order of Enlightenment
Indiana Grand Master Masonic Service Award in 2000
Member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, 2001
Tennessee Squire Association, 2010
Larry has received the additional degrees:
Allied Masonic Degrees, Chicago 2001
Royal Arch Mariners
Arch and Dove
Secret Monitor 1° and 2°
Royal Order of Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord 3rd Grade
St. Lawrence the Martyr
Knight of Constantinople
Excellent Master
Master of Tyre
Architect
Grand Architect
Superintendent
Installed Sovereign Master 2003
Installed Supreme Ruler 2009
Installed Commander Noah 2009
Order of the Red Branch of Eri, Washington, DC 2003
Knight Commander, Order of the Red Branch of Eri, Washington, DC 2009
Ye Antiente Order of Corks, Washington, DC 2003
Order of the Rock, Washington, DC 2003
Order of Freedona, Washington, DC 2004
Grand Tilers of Solomon, Washington, DC 2009
Masonic Order of the Bath, Washington, DC 2009
The Royal Society of Knights Occidental, Washington, DC 2002
The Order of WAHTA, Washington, DC 2004
Goose & Taters, Quest, Zanzibar 2000
Zanzibar Fellowship of the Crystal Swizzle Stick 2006
Ancient and Heroic Order of the Gordian Knot, Indiana Synod No. 1, 2005