Lawrence Alan Heinrich

Lawrence A. Heinrich, 92, husband of the late Joy Ann Heinrich, passed away Sunday, February 12, 2023 in Edgefield Post Acute Care.

A native of Kansas City, MO, Larry was a son of the late John and Pansy Hancock Heinrich.

In 1952, newly graduated from KU in Missouri with a degree in Engineering Physics, Lawrence “Larry” Heinrich first went to work at Argonne Laboratory in Chicago for the development work for the reactors at Savanna River Site (“SRS”) and also for the reactor for the submarine Nautilus. He then transferred a year later down to SRS to work in the Experimental Physics group. In 1955, he transferred to the Reactor Technology. In 1969, he was transferred to the Advanced Operational Planning Group with a dozen physicists working under him. That group was set up at the request of the Atomic Energy Commission.

In 1980, he went to work for the Environmental Group at SRS which was involved in evaluating foreign technologies. “This was the spy network” as he mentions in an interview that was published by nationalregister.sc.gov. Larry retired five times from different careers he had at SRS. Larry racked up 10 million Delta miles with all of the traveling he did for his career domestically and internationally. He visited China, Japan, and Russia. He produced several reports, some of which were for Congress. The most interesting report he wrote was on the Chernobyl incident—how it happened, and what to learn from it. One of Larry’s influential friends was Enrico Fermi, after whom the element Fermium was named.

Larry was able to take his wife, Joy, and daughter, Patty, to many places with him on trips. He and his wife traveled to many countries throughout their 70-year marriage.

Larry led an Eagle Scout group in Aiken. He loved to trout fish in the mountains with friends, and carved many things out of redwood. Larry also got a pilot license early on after moving to Aiken. Larry was compassionate to his family and friends and would always help out any way he could. He will truly be missed.

A memorial service will be held Saturday afternoon at 1:30 PM at New Covenant Presbyterian Church.  The family will receive friends following the service.

SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC