OBITUARY Lawrence Michael Guidobono November 19, 1961 – December 25, 2018 Lieutenant Lawrence M. Guidobono of the Meriden City Police Department died on Christmas day. Larry, or as his fellow police officers affectionately called him, “Guido”, proudly served the city of Meriden for more than 33 years. Larry was born in Hartford on November 19, 1961.
He graduated first in his class from the Connecticut Police Academy receiving the Academy’s highest honors. Larry began his career as a Patrolman and was later assigned to B Squad and a permanent post within the inner city. Soon after he was appointed to the position of Field Training Officer where his responsibilities included training new police recruits.
In 1989, Larry joined the department’s SWAT team, rising to the position of Commander in 2004. As SWAT Team Commander, he was highly respected by his team members and SWAT Teams from across Connecticut for his demonstrated leadership and dedication to the team and its mission. Among his other department assignments, he was an investigator in the Internal Affairs Unit.
In 2003, Larry was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and led the department’s successful effort to achieve National Accreditation through CALEA. In 2005, he became the Executive Officer of Police Operations, assisting the Patrol Division Commander with responsibility for daily operational tasks and deployment of personnel. In 2006, he became Commander of the Third Watch in the Patrol Division.
He would later take over the Second Watch as Commander until his end of watch on December 25, 2018. Throughout his career, Lt. Guidobono displayed an enduring passion for his chosen profession.
He was “tough as nails” and was “always the first one through the door”. Guido was very proud of the officers he worked with and mentored. He was known as a “Cop’s Cop” – widely loved and revered by all, Larry loved his families, blood and blue.
Prior to entering the Police Academy, he studied the tuba at Case Western Reserve and University of Hartford’s Hart School of Music, and was a graduate of Newington High School. In addition to his love of classical music he was a die- hard fan of the Chicago Blackhawks and the NY Yankees. Larry was an American history buff, an expert on the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln and World War I. Among Larry’s favorite activities was participating in battlefield re-enactments of both the Civil and First World Wars.
Larry was a devoted father to his three children, Joshua, Zachary and Erica. They were the jewels in his life. In addition to his three children, Larry leaves behind his beloved mother, Erica Guidobono of Newington; his brother Frederick Guidobono and wife Lisa and their two sons, Benjamin and Jared, of Wethersfield; sister Dea Lawrence and her husband Michael Zelniker of Los Angeles; and his former wife, Loretta Judkins of East Haddam.
Larry was preceded in death by his dear father, Enzo Guidobono. The Guidobono family would like to share their gratitude for the great men and women of the Meriden Police Department for the love and support they have shown their brother through his time of service. His fellow officers have been an abiding of comfort during this profoundly painful period.
Calling hours are open to the public on Friday, January 4th from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 5th at 10:00 a.m. at D’Esopo Funeral Chapel followed by a 11:00 a.m. burial at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Meriden. The family has requested, in lieu of flowers a donation be made to Autism Speaks, 85 Devonshire Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02109.
For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www. desopofuneralchapel.com.
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