Robert A. Larsen, a longtime Rye resident, died the morning of October 20, 2020 at Greenwich Hospital. He was 89.
Shortly after his birth, on January 15, 1931, his family moved from Greenwich, Conn. to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. His parents, Harald Larsen and Gudrun Pedersen, were both originally from Norway.
After graduating from Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He took great pride in his military service, both for the discipline it ingrained in him and because it exposed him to a diverse group of people and backgrounds. He didn’t attend college but felt that the Marine Corps prepared him well for life’s challenges.
Mr. Larsen went on to work in various marketing and sales roles for more than 35 years with New York Telephone, NYNEX, and AT&T.
In the early 1950s, he moved to Rye, where he met his future wife, Bjorg Gjertrud Juel, who had emigrated from Norway and was working as a governess in Greenwich. They were married for 51 years. She died from cancer in 2006.
Mr. Larsen was a member of the church council at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Rye Brook. Over the years, he volunteered for a number of nonprofit organizations, including Food Patch, Corporate Angel Network, and Retired Executive Network. Both he and his wife volunteered at United Hospital in Port Chester prior to its closing. After Mrs. Larsen’s death, he devoted more than 7,000 hours volunteering at Greenwich Hospital.
He loved the outdoors, especially fishing, enjoyed travel, but, most importantly, he loved being around family and friends, said his family. “He had a dry sense of humor and loved to hear others laugh. He will be greatly missed by all,” said his family.
Bob Larsen is survived by his son Paul and his wife Lisa of Rye, and his adoring grandchildren, Kerry Camarra and her husband Bill, Jamie Larsen, and Adam Larsen. In addition to his wife, he was also predeceased by his son Eric.
A service was held October 22 at Graham Funeral Home. He was buried at Greenwood Union Cemetery in Rye.
Donations in Mr. Larsen’s name to Greenwich Hospital or to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center would be greatly appreciated.
