Laird Mitchell Post, born July 23, 1954, in Los Angeles, California, has passed away. Laird had a larger-than-life personality, and his humor, kindness, and generosity left a mark on everyone he knew.
Laird was the child of Geoffrey Post (Israel Posinov) and Gertrude Foore, whose Yiddish families fled anti-Jewish pogroms in Ukraine, and travelled via Azerbaijan and Turkey to the USA at the beginning of the 20th century, eventually migrating to California and elsewhere. Laird was Geoff and Trudy’s third child of four, after Katherine Elaine, and Greg David, and before Cary Alexander. The children were raised in Los Angeles with some time in White Plains, New York, and went on several memorable trips across North America and Europe.
Fun-loving, bright, attentive, and empathetic, Laird was the student president of Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California (class of ’72), and graduated with honors. He then attended the University of California Irvine, and the University of California Los Angeles, graduating cum laude with a BA in Political Science. He found that his responsible and compassionate nature was suited for the insurance and human resources industries and spent the next decades of his career as a recognized consultant advising and transforming corporations to improve their performance, organization, and talent, with a key emphasis on mentorship.
Laird was married to the love of his life, Paula Alene Snyder, for more than 40 years, with whom he had twin sons, Eric Mitchell and Matthew Alexander. The family lived on Mercer Island, Washington, in the Seattle area, from 1984 – 2006, and then Paula and Laird lived in Oakland, California from 2006 – 2014, eventually moving to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where they retired.
Laird was physically and mentally ambidextrous, a curious learner and leader occupied with supporting the comfort of others. A lover of life, food, cats, and family, Laird was a generous host, a toastmaster, and a sometimes-juvenile life of the party, whose willing disregard for social norms and inhibitions made him an entertaining addition to any conversation. He had deep passions for cocktails and cooking, jokes and comedy, technology, travel, cars, movies, watches, and modern and contemporary art. Laird didn’t keep score in golf, because he was not interested in competition, loving the downfalls and triumphs of the sport. He greatly enjoyed living in Manitowoc for not only its scenic views of Lake Michigan and the comings and goings of birds on their property, but also for the ease of Wisconsin living and the friendliness of the community there.
Laird was the last of his siblings to pass and was a devoted and kind-hearted senior figure for his extended family. Laird is survived by his wife Paula, his sons Eric and Matthew, his stepdaughter Shannon, his grandchildren Kali, Lucha, and Yuri, his sister-in-law Pamela, his nephews John, Benjamin, Alex, Nicholas, Oliver, David, and Kevin, his niece Becca, his cousins Berty, Janet, Paul, Tamra, Julie, Joshua, Harrison, and Zachary, grand-nieces Matilda and Lily, grand-nephew Arthur, and numerous other siblings-in-law, spouses, nephews, nieces, and cousins, all who loved him dearly. Laird made friends with almost anyone he encountered, and had many close friends, colleagues, and family around the world. Laird was a considerate and gentle soul who loved, above all, to laugh.
While the family plans to have a series of memorial events at different locations over the ensuing months, there will be no public service held at this time. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com.
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 North Water Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220 is assisting the family with arrangements.
