Rev. Dr. Lawrence A.A. Larson

Rev. Dr. Lawrence Andrew Adolph Larson, 81, of New Fairfield, CT, died on January 16, 2016 at the Regional Hospice and Home Care Center in Danbury, CT.
‘Father’ Larry was born on December 27, 1934 to Julia Hycznyck and Adolph “Gus” Larson in Chicago, IL. He graduated from Indiana University in 1957 as a speech and drama major, where he acted and wrote plays, was drum major in the “Marching Hundred” and served as a licensed Methodist preacher Sundays at small, rural parishes. He attended seminary at Drew University and earned his Masters of Divinity and Masters in Communication and Film at Boston University. He served as a Methodist pastor in Dorchester, MA and Fitchburg, MA before becoming ordained as an Episcopal priest at St. James Church, Great Barrington, MA in 1968. He served as rector for eleven years at Christ Church in Ansonia, CT and 18 years at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Brewster, NY. When in his 60’s, he completed a Doctorate in Ministry through the Graduate Theological Foundation. His 50 years of ministry were marked but a commitment to social justice: such as marching in the South in the 60’s, founding tenants’ rights organizations in MA and CT, starting food pantries in CT and NY, as well as parish outreach to the mentally ill. ‘Father’ Larry was also a poet, musician, photographer, wood turner, outdoorsman, fly fisherman and avid basketball fan.
His first wife Dorothy predeceased him. In 1983 he married Patricia Anderson at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Brewster, NY.
He is survived by his wife Patricia of 32 years, his daughter Dr. Heidi Jane Larson and husband Dr. Peter Piot of London, UK; his son L. Jeffrey Larson and wife Elizabeth of New Haven, CT; he is also survived by, and three step-daughters: Arlan Bussell and husband Stuart, Merryl Dimaio, and Lindsey Anderson; and step-son Jevan Anderson and wife Dimitra, and 8 beloved grandchildren, as well as 2 great-grandchildren and a sister Muriel Sanchez of San Diego, CA.
A funeral service will be celebrated on Monday, January 25, 2016 11:00AM at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Brewster, NY. Interment will follow at Milltown Rural Cemetery, Brewster. Friends may call at the Beecher Funeral Home, 1 Putnam Avenue, Brewster, NY on Sunday from 1-3 and 6-8PM.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 26 Prospect Street, Brewster, NY or Regional Hospice and Home Care Center, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury, CT.