Leonard H. Larsen
1924-2001

Leonard H. Larsen died on August 23, 2002 at the age of 78, after a long and brave struggle with illness. He died peacefully at home, with his wife, Bea, close by. Len taught geology at the University of Cincinnati for thirty years, from 1957 until his retirement in 1987. He is survived by his wife Bea; by his children Julia, Grey and Neil; by his siblings Roberta, Joan and Curt; and by his six grandchildren, Yakaira, Emil, Robin, Siri, Teal and Sasha. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 13, 1924, served in the Navy during World War II, and was educated at Antioch College and Columbia University, where he received his doctorate.

Many knew Len Larsen as a brilliant and dedicated teacher and researcher, both in the classroom and in the field. He read the earth the way others read books. Many others knew him as a pilot, whose passion for flying took him and his small plane on many cross-continent adventures. His many fishing friends knew him as a lifelong and intrepid fisherman. But all who knew him knew Len as a profoundly good man who loved: who loved his family, his students, his friends; who loved humanity, both man and woman, black and white, adult and child; who loved reason and all ways of knowing, with the head and by the hand; who loved music and the arts; and who loved the earth, the waters and the sky, and all the creatures therein and thereupon. He lived well, and he shared all. We who knew and loved him will remember him always as we aspire to live as he lived.

The family will be at home to friends on Friday, August 30, from 1-7 PM at 2200 Victory Parkway, apartment 704. We also welcome all who wish to send remembrances of Len to email them to: rememberlen@yahoo.com. Your contributions will be posted to a memorial website that will soon be on-line. In honor of Len’s grandson Sasha, memorial gifts may be sent to the Prader-Willi Alliance for Research (P-WAR) at 28 Vesey Street, suite 2104 NYC, NY 10007.