John Leonard Lavan
Commander (Surgeon), U.S. Navy Reserve

John Leonard Lavan was born on 28 October 1890 in Grand Rapids, MI.

Lavan was a Lieutenant (Surgeon) in the U.S. Navy during World War I, retiring in World War II as a Commander for the Naval Reserve.

He played baseball in the Major Leagues as a shortstop for twelve seasons for the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Senators, 1913-24. Known as a skillful infielder, he played in 1,163 games, with 954 hits, 7 homeruns, 377 RBIs, 338 runs scored and had a lifetime .245 batting average.

Death and Burial

John Leonard Lavan died on 29 May 1952 in Harper Hospital in Detroit, MI, at age 61 after a brief illness. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.