Deceased March 8, 2017
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In Memory
The Grande Cru Classe and I have lost, not only a classmate, but a loyal and loving friend. On March 8, 2017, Larry died in a Rhode Island rest home, where he had resided for several years, afflicted by a long-term illness. By chance, I visited my old pal four days before his demise. Although he was unable to speak other than saying my name, his eyes never left my face. Those moments allowed me to reminisce, sharing memories of our nearly 65 years of friendship. I recounted the endless rides to MH, the occasional early mornings we ran the dirt roads of Truro or the fields of Amherst, that memorable trip when our two mothers drove us from Ohio to Amherst College to begin our freshman year.
Larry grew up in Akron, Ohio, and entered Amherst from University School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He earned his M.B.A. at Case Western Reserve University and had a successful career in sales and finance with Sun Oil and Central National Bank in Cleveland and Textron and the Rhode Island Treasurer’s Office in Providence.
Known for his wry sense of humor, in his contribution to the class’s 50th Reunion book, he reflected on the challenges of his major, biology. “To complicate matters, in 1955, I met Ginger Evans, Mt. Holyoke ’59, thus disrupting my focus on the chemical structure of cells.”
He and Ginger were married for 57 years. They were proud that both of their children, daughter Robin ’84 and son David ’85, were accepted at Amherst. Shortly after David’s tragic death in June of 1981, Larry wrote to his classmates of his belief in God, calling David’s death “the decisive factor in my search for Him.” Larry was active leader in the Barrington (R.I.) Presbyterian Church for the rest of his life.
Larry loved all sports. At University School, he was named to the weekly “Dream Team” by one of Cleveland’s newspapers in recognition of his prowess on the school’s football team. He played football for four years at Amherst. A true lover of baseball, his transition from the Indians to the Red Sox followed his move from Cleveland to Rhode Island.
His classmates elected Larry chair of its 25th Reunion. At Amherst, Larry was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He seldom missed any class reunion or homecoming weekend. A stalwart member of his church choir, Larry loved to sing and was a fixture of the Class of ’58 reunion chorus.
Larry will be remembered for his loyalty toward Amherst and for the kindness and grace he exhibited toward others.
Fellows, let’s lift our cups to this man’s kindness and grace. Let’s sing for Larry. He would have loved that.
John Pendleton ’58