Larry Robert Pilot

Larry R. Pilot, Esq. 

Larry R. Pilot passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on February 11, 2025. Born in Detroit, MI, on April 22, 1940, to Italian immigrants Elizabeth Julia (DeSpirt) Pilot and Victor Pilot. Larry was a proud, first-generation Italian-American who cherished memories of his childhood trips to Italy. 

Larry graduated from Wayne State University in 1962 with a degree in Pharmacy and was a member of Phi Delta Chi professional fraternity. He was elected to Omicron Delta Kappa honor society. He began his career as a pharmacist in Detroit, working in retail, hospital, and a compounding pharmacy before moving to Washington, DC, on March 17, 1964, to work at the American Pharmaceutical Association. He later was employed by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association in 1966. Larry earned a J.D. from the Catholic University of America’s (CUA) Columbus School of Law and served on the CUA Board of Visitors for several decades. 

On April 6, 1968, he married Lynne Joyce Widlitz, of South Euclid, OH. They resided in Arlington’s Lyon Village neighborhood where they raised three children. Larry served as President of the Lyon Village Citizens’ Association. 

Larry was an exceptional attorney and a pioneer in medical device regulation. In 1969, he joined the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and later moved to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as Special Assistant to Commissioner Charles C. Edwards. In 1971, Larry and a colleague established the FDA’s Office of Medical Devices, later overseeing the implementation of the Medical Device Amendments of 1976. As the first Director of the FDA’s Center for Medical Devices, he played a critical role in shaping modern medical device regulations. He was honored with the FDA’s Award of Merit in 1977 for his contributions to regulatory policy. 

In 1979, Larry transitioned to private practice at McKenna & Cuneo LLP, where he represented numerous medical device companies and co-founded the Medical Device Manufacturers Association. He was sought after as an expert witness in FDA-related legal cases and authored numerous publications on Food and Drug Law compliance. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the U.S. government invited him to advise on international aspects of medical device regulation. 

Larry, along with Lynne and Carol Laskin through their founding of Formula Inc., played a pivotal role in securing the passage of the Infant Formula Act of 1980. The Act established, for the first time, Federal quality control procedures and nutrient requirements for infant formula. 

In 2008, Larry retired as a senior partner at McKenna, Long & Aldridge but continued practicing law independently and consulting in the medical device industry. In 2022, he received CUA Law’s Distinguished Alumni Award for his lifelong contributions to the field. Larry was a man of boundless wisdom, compassion, and generosity. He never stopped thinking about how to improve regulations, empower innovators, and bring life-changing medical devices to people in the U.S. and worldwide. He lived with purpose, always striving to make a difference in the world of healthcare and beyond. Larry was a deep thinker, voracious reader, and classical music enthusiast. He was a member of the Arlington Knights of Columbus, the National Italian American Foundation, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Arlington Jaycees, and numerous professional organizations. He was a Gold Card member (50+ years) of the Venetian Club of Mutual Aid in Detroit, co-founded by his father. Larry also served as an usher at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington and Church of the Resurrection in Ft. Myers, FL. 

Larry loved taking his family on their annual summer vacation to Rehoboth Beach, so it was only fitting that 17 years ago, he and Lynne became snowbirds. They spent the winters in Ft. Myers, FL, where Larry enjoyed biking to breakfast, walking on the beach with friends, and entertaining his grandchildren at his Gulf Coast home. 

Larry is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lynne; his children, Lawrence Robert Pilot (Jamie) of Arlington; Tracy L. Pilot Perkins of Richmond; and Bradley C. Pilot (Susanne) of Gulfport, FL; and his beloved grandchildren: James, Brennan, and Elizabeth Pilot; Grace and Carter Perkins; and Leonidas, Godric, and Arabella Pilot. He was a devoted father and grandfather who prioritized the intellectual development of his family while applauding their athletic and artistic endeavors. Larry loved hearing about his children and grandchildren’s lives, interests, and academic accolades and would attend every sporting and extracurricular event possible to cheer them on. 

Larry is also survived by his siblings Roy Pilot of Dearborn Heights, MI; Lenora Pilot-Turner of Cottrellville, MI; and Mark Pilot of West Bloomfield, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth and Victor Pilot, and his sister, Mary Wollesen. 

A Mass will be celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington on March 15, 2025, at 11:00 AM. A reception will immediately follow, and the interment will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Larry’s name to Juvenile Arthritis research (https://www.arthritis.org/) or to St. Charles Borromeo Church (https://www.stcharleschurch.org/give).