Obituary of William Larsen

William “Bill” Larsen William Carl Larsen passed away peacefully on April 13, 2016. Bill was born on February 18, 1926, in Warsaw, NY, son of John P. Larsen and Dorothy (Radliff) Larsen. He attended Rochester elementary schools and graduated from West High School in 1943, where he was a track star and senior class vice-president. Upon graduation he immediately enrolled in naval aviator school at Tufts University in Boston. As WWII was ending the navy sent him to Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH where he attended the Thayer School of Engineering. In 1946, he graduated from Dartmouth with a BS degree and, in 1948, with a Master of Science degree in engineering. On June 30, 1946, he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy “Dotte” Schabert. On that same day he received his officer’s commission and was assigned to duty on a destroyer escort. He served in Rhode Island, Virginia, and Panama. After his naval obligations he continued in the Navy Reserves. He worked as a civil engineer in Hanover, and later worked for the New York State Department of Public Works. In 1955, he started his own business: Larsen Civil, Sanitary, and Municipal Engineers in Rochester. From 1973 to 2007, he was an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology where he was instrumental in developing RIT’s Civil Engineering Technology undergraduate program. In 1976, and again in 1982, he was the Democratic candidate for New York’s 34th congressional district. He received a variety of awards over the years including the Civic Award in International Relations from the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Engineer of the Year Award from the Rochester Engineering Society, the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award, Lifespan's Eli Rudin Second Half Hero Award, and the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Four Presidents Distinguished Public Service Award. He was a past member of many local, national, and international environmental and humanitarian organizations including Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, United Nations Association of Rochester, and Partners for the Americas. His true passion was working with the people of Haiti and Antigua. Until his death he was involved in a variety of projects that were designed to improve their health, education, and standard of living. He was widely known as a modest, selfless, caring man who was strongly committed to improving the environment and helping others. Bill retired from RIT in 2007. He spent the next seven years as a loving and devoted caregiver for his wife, Dotte, who passed away in April, 2014 after 67 years of marriage. He was predeceased by his brother, Paul. He is survived by a brother, John, and niece, Mary, of Juneau, AK; and his three children: Jan (Charlie) Larsen-Fendt of Rochester; Kris (Ken Grimes) Larsen of San Diego, CA; David (Kathy) of Wilmington, VT; and; grandchildren: Ben, Eric, Michelle, Kate (Alain), and Christopher. Bill’s family would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone at St. John’s Home and Lifetime Care, with special thanks to his dedicated caregivers, nurses, and therapists. At the convenience of the family a private family burial service will be held at the White Haven Memorial Park. Friends and acquaintances are invited to an informal Service of Remembrance on Saturday April 30 at 1 p.m. in the Interfaith Chapel of Miller Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. (3325 Winton Rd. South) during which the sharing of personal memories is welcome. Home Brighton, New York Birthplace Warsaw, New York Donations The courtesy of no flowers is appreciated. Those who wish to make a donation in Bill’s honor may do so to the: Friends of Borgne, Inc. PO Box 486 Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 Link to the Website Written expressions of condolence may be sent to: Jan Larsen-Fendt 21 Brittany Circle Rochester, New York 14618