| Please
note that all email addresses have been removed for the protection of
the senders/receivers. Hackers often harvest email addresses for misuse.
An email address is available by contacting either John Cessna or Jim
O'Rourke.
Mimi and Family, I have also taken
the liberty of sending the information about Al’s passing to several
other geography organizations of which I knew he was a member (other than
the IGS which sent out the first message): IGA, NCGE, The Chicago Map
Society, and AAG. I’m sure there were others that I am unaware of.
The IGA has also notified its listserve. National Council for Geographic
Education (NCGE) replied that they will put a notice in their next publication.
As you can see from one of the emails, a special message will be included
in the IGS publication The Bulletin. The Chicago Map Society does not
have a publication. I’m sure the Association of American Geographers
(AAG) will also include a notification of his passing, although I haven’t
heard back from them yet.
As you can see he was loved and well-respected
by his “geography family.”
My best to you all,
Judy
*****************************************************************
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 8:36 AM
Subject: Al Larson
Greetings, GIMBY Folk:
We have learned, through David Schein, of the passing this
week of IGS Life Member Albert Larson. Al professed at the University
of Illinois-Chicago for many years, and then taught for other colleges
in the Chicago area (while officially retired). He served IGS in many
capacities: Bulletin editor, Galena (1989) meeting organizer,
President, and co-author of a chapter in the Ron Nelson book on
Illinois. Al received the IGS Distinguished Geographer Award in 1990.
He also was extremely active with the Alliance, often as a humorous but
extremely knowledgeable content expert. Al had way of bringing a smile
to the face of anyone who interacted with him. One of his life
ambitions was to photograph and learn something about every courthouse
in the country. We will miss the big guy, who lived only a mile or so
from David, in Mt. Prospect. ms
Michael D. Sublett
Professor of Geography
Illinois State University
Campus Box 4400
Normal IL 61790-4400
Phone: 309-438-5808
FAX: 309-438-5310
*****************************************************************
Mike and David, Thank you for passing along this
sad information about
Al. I remember him with great fondness.
He was a top-notch educator and wealth of knowledge.
I remember
driving with him somewhere downstate (south of Chicago, anyway) to do
a
workshop together. He taught me all about the differences in semi's as
we passed them on the Interstate!
Of course, he taught me so much more over the
years about geography.
And - WOW! - what a presenter of info, done with depth of information
and with humor.
We have been missing him recently at various geography events, and
many asked about him, but none of us knew where he might be - off
visiting another courthouse, we would speculate.
Any word where we might send condolences?
Here's to Al!
Judy
Judith K. Bock
535 Pheasant Ct.
Grayslake, IL 60030
847-223-7627
*****************************************************************
Dear Colleagues:
I also wanted to chime in that Al Larson was a great guy. I was
one of his students and it is because of him directly that I chose geography
as a discipline of study. His Geography of Europe seminars were
enchanting and I really wish I had been able to go with him on his field
studies. I did have the opportunity to have several courses with
him and I did go with him on one of his rural field excursions where we
did study courthouses, of course. He is also directly responsible
for my membership in the IGS. He will be truly missed.
Joseph D. Kubal
Thanks Joe. Anyone else with remembrances of this great teacher and good
friend who wishes to share, publically or privately, pls email me. I am
compiling sentiments for The Bulletin. Thanks
David Schein
312.408.5539
*****************************************************************
Dear Colleagues,
Al Larson was an inspiration to me. I already
miss him very much. Thank heavens he knew how highly we thought of him,
and how highly his students did, too. The Geography of Rock and Roll was
one of my favorite lectures by him. But, every lecture was absolutely
captivating to me. I went to Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska and stood
on the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England because of his slides.
My book about Illinois High School mascots was inspired by his study
of U.S. courthouses. He was spellbinding to me because he knew
so much, liked the same things I did, and thought funny like me, too.
He was a crusty old guy at times, but nothing he could say or do would
ever knock him off the pedestal I put him on as a mentor to me. He is
one of many excellent geographers from our great state of Illinois that
I am proud to say I know.
Fred Willman
Amen, Fred, & thanks. Yes that Innovation
and Diffusion of Rock & Roll series was a show stopper among show
stoppers.
The kids could relate because they knew that stuff but didn’t know
what they knew was geography until Al tied it together as a spatial phenomenon.
David Schein
*****************************************************************
Judy:
I hate to start the New Year off on a sad note but in the event you did
not see the notice in the Trib yesterday (Sunday), Al Larson has died.
His wake will be tomorrow at a funeral home in Mt. Prospect.
Al was a great teacher who did immensely good things promoting geography
among classroom teachers. His humor was so engaging; it made him unforgettable.
If you need any of the details, let me know.
Every good wish to you for peace, good health and happiness in 2007.
Jim (Marran)
*****************************************************************
Judy:
Thanks for thinking of me. I'm not on the Gimby listserv and I hadn't
heard about Al. Do you have details? Had he been sick or did
he die suddenly? I'm so sad to hear this news. He was a dear man.
Barb (Winston)
*****************************************************************
Thanks for passing this along, Judy. I knew Al
very well and am
surprised to see this.
Rich (Schultz)
*****************************************************************
So sorry to hear of Al's passing. I will always
remember him for his
enthusiasm and his manner of presenting information. A great friend.
Mary Ann (Hanlon)
*****************************************************************
Hi Judy;
Gee, I was so sorry to hear about Al's passing. I did not have much
contact with Al, but he was a daily lecturer at a Summer Institute I ran
a few years ago. It was a tough group, so the humor he brought
to it was a welcomed relief during a period when I was counting the hours.
Please convey my condolences to his family with a special remembrance
of the good-natured smiles he brought to a discipline that could be quite
dull.
Celeste (Frasier)
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