Executive led 2 'Big 5' firms

Lawrence Pricher / 1918-2007

Lawrence Stadon Pricher Jr., who held the distinction of heading two Big 5 firms in Hawaii, died Monday at age 89.

He succumbed to cancer. He was surrounded by family in his last moments in Rogue River, Ore., his home of the last 12 years.

Pricher, born in Brooklyn, N.Y., graduated from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, served in the Marine Corps and went on to a business career in New York City.

After working for 20 years in New York, he made his way to Honolulu as financial vice president of C. Brewer & Co. in 1965.

He rose to the position of president of C. Brewer in 1970 and then moved to Alexander & Baldwin three years later, retiring as its board chairman and chief executive officer in 1978.

Pricher and his wife, Audrey, built their family home in Princeville, Kauai. He came out of retirement to accept the position of president of the Princeville Development Corp. for two years.

Besides his professional life, Pricher was dedicated to serving the community. He served on the board of trustees for the Bishop Museum for nine years, as well as the boards for First Hawaiian Bank, Iolani Preparatory School, Hawaii Loa College and Aloha United Way.

He loved Hawaii and its people and was widely respected and loved by many in the community, said his daughter Ginny Kreindl. He was also dedicated to the family.

"He just loved his family so much," said Kreindl. "I don't think he was ever as happy as when we were all together as a family."

As an avid golfer, Pricher passed on his love of the game to his grandsons.

Pricher is survived by his wife of 66 years; daughter Kreindl of Bellingham, Wash.; daughter-in-law Meleanna Meyer of Honolulu; grandsons Alan Goto of Seattle, Jeff Pricher of Cascade Locks, Ore., and Jay Pricher of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and two great-grandsons, John Goto of Seattle and Shawn Goto of Bellingham, Wash.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the John L. Pricher Scholarship Fund at Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Waimea on the Big Island.