WILKES-BARRE — Larry I. Taren, 94, died peacefully in his sleep on
Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021 at his residence in Highland Park Senior Living. Heleaves his sons, Paul and Stephen Taren; his grandchildren Alec, Daniel, Cindy andMichael Taren; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and innumerable friends farand wide.
Born in Scranton and raised in Wilkes-Barre, the son of Harry and Helen Taren, hewas a lifelong resident of Wilkes-Barre. He grew up in the Heights section among
a vibrant Jewish community. After graduating from Coughlin High School in 1945,he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. The war was just ending, and he served honorably. He
then completed undergraduate studies at Penn State University and subsequently
attended law school at Syracuse. He left his law studies before completion,
however, in order to join his brother, Arnold, and their father in the familybusiness, Modern Floor Shop. He eventually bought out the flooring business andexpanded into kitchen and office furniture manufacturing. He grew the new
business, Modern Plastics, into a national, multimillion-dollar firm. ModernPlastics, located on Horton Street in Wilkes-Barre, employed hundreds of area
residents over the course of 50 years in operation. Mr. Taren successfully steered
the business through the great flood of 1972 and multiple recessions. He worked
joyfully well into his eighties.
Mr. Taren was married to Dolores Taren for over 20 years. Even after their divorce,
they maintained a close friendship until her passing in 2004 at age 72. Mrs. Tarenherself was a business owner and operated Pillow Talk, a very popular lingerie andaccessory store in Kingston.
Mr. Taren loved life. He was an avid skier, and in his lifetime he serpentined downsnowy peaks of at least six countries across three continents. He also bicycled
thousands of miles. After WWII, he cycled from Paris to Rome on a single-speed
bicycle. At over sixty years of age, he cycled from Boston to New York in a charity
fundraiser for the cause of HIV/AIDS. He completed the annual 100-mile ride
through the five boroughs of New York City on two occasions. I was personallywith Mr. Taren, my father, during his very last bicycle ride part way around
Harvey's Lake, when he was 92 years old.
He remained intellectually curious and an admirer of female beauty, food, andgood design right to the very end of his days. Mr. Taren was a dedicated ethnic
Jew, and he donated generously of his time and wealth to Jewish causes locally andfor the good of Israel. In his last gesture of goodwill, he proved instrumental inraising funds for the construction of the new Jewish Community Center, now
located in Kingston.
Mr. Taren will be missed by family and so many friends and always remembered
for his humor, good cheer, optimism, generosity and joie de vivre. Above all, hewas a devoted father who loved his children more than anything else in the world.
A funeral service will be held graveside at the Anshe Sfard Cemetery, Lower
Demunds Road, Dallas on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021 at 1 p.m. You can also pay
respects at shiva to be held Sunday, Sept. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Monday, Sept
27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Woodlands Inn and Resort. Visit
www.RosenbergFuneralChapel.com for additional information.