Louis LaRiche Obituary

Louis H. LaRiche (LaRiccia)

Louis H. LaRiche (LaRiccia), 90, of Northville, Michigan, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 9, 2022.

Lou was most proud of his seven children, who with their spouses and offspring survive him, Michele (Paul) Griffeth, Jacqueline Gordon (Doug Stamm), Scott (Dawn) LaRiche, John LaRiche (Sahar Kakish), Jim (Maureen) LaRiche, Bob (Tiare) LaRiche, and Suzanne (Mark) Merucci. He is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Lou was preceded in death by his parents; brothers; and cherished wife, Gail, whom he remained devoted to until they were recently happily reunited in Heaven.

In 1913, Lou's parents, Michael and Maria LaRiche, immigrated to America from Matrice, Italy (Abruzzo region), where they settled in Cleveland to raise their family. Lou, their fourth son, was born Dec. 12, 1931.

Lou attended John Carroll University, where he left with a diploma and more importantly, the love of his life and wife of 60 years, Gail. Together they journeyed to Fort Riley, Kansas, where Lou served two years in U.S. Army before pursuing his youthful passion, the car business!

After working with his father and brothers at the family car dealerships in Cleveland, Lou was inspired to open his first dealership in 1964. It was a Volkswagen franchise in Findlay. In 1971, he realized his longtime dream to become a Chevrolet dealer when he opened Lou LaRiche Chevrolet in Plymouth, Michigan. He is well known in the region for coining the phrase "Switch to LaRiche." Throughout the years, he also acquired a Toyota-Subaru dealership and a Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership, both in Findlay.

Lou was extremely thankful for his many blessings in life. He had a strong and unwavering faith that was nurtured by attending Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel, where he was a member for over 50 years.

Community was important to Lou! He was a Plymouth Rotarian, where he volunteered year after year at the Fall Festival chicken barbeque, even though he absolutely despised chicken! He was also member of Legatus International of Ann Arbor and Detroit Auto Dealers Association (serving as President of Detroit Auto Show in 1985). He valued many friendships developed at Italian American Club of Livonia and Meadowbrook Country Club.

Lou celebrated his Italian heritage, reveling in family meals prepared lovingly by Gail. Together, he and Gail enjoyed a very active social life with their many friends. They loved to travel and play golf together, spending many winters in Siesta Key with family and friends.

Lou will lay in state at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 47650 N. Territorial Rd., Plymouth, Michigan, from 9-10 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Mass will follow at 10 a.m.

We will celebrate Lou's life with an open house from 12-7 p.m. Tuesday at Italian American Banquet Center, 39200 Five Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan, 48154.

In 'Lou' of flowers, please make memorial donations to Angela Hospice of Livonia at https://angelahospice.org or Miracle League of Plymouth at https://www.miracleleagueofplymouth.com.