Laurence Savett

Dr. Laurence (Larry) Savett passed away on November 13, 2025 at the age of 89.

Larry was a proud native of Utica, NY. He graduated from Hamilton College and University of Rochester Medical School. During his internship at Minneapolis General Hospital, he met Sue, his wife of 62 years. Larry's medical training and military service took the couple to Ohio, where son Jon was born; New Jersey and Texas. His first private practice was in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where daughter Ellen was born, and the family lived in the next town over, Rockport, which remains the family's beloved vacation spot. Eventually the Savetts moved back to Sue's hometown, St. Paul, in 1969.

Larry practiced internal medicine for several decades until a serious illness followed by a long recovery ended that chapter of his career in 1997. When he retired, he built on the teaching he had already been doing as a clinical instructor for the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. He distilled much of his wisdom as a clinician, teacher, and patient into a book, The Human Side of Medicine, which was published in 2002. He taught and advised students going into health professions at Macalester College, University of St. Thomas, Inver Hills Community College, and Northwestern Health Sciences University. Within and beyond these roles, he built long-term mentoring relationships. He served on the regional board of the National Association of Advisors to the Health Professions, and wrote for and served on the editorial board of the journal Creative Nursing.

Larry was very active in the Jewish community. He served as president of Shaare Shalom Congregation, and was both a founding member and the first president of Beth Jacob Congregation, helping define its guiding values and raise the funds for the new building in Mendota Heights. He led Pesach seders full of Larry shtick and was a camp doctor at Herzl Camp in Webster, WI in the early 1970s. He served as Central States Regional President for the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

Larry will be remembered for his love of family and friends, his ability to make conversation with anyone (and find their connection to Utica), as well as his great sense of humor. He enjoyed old movies, reading, art, and classical music. He also played several musical instruments and was a clarinet player in the Inver Hills Community Band.

Preceded in death by parents, Eleanor and Harry Savett; sister, Enid Savett; parents-in-law, Bess and Irving Gotlieb; and special uncle and aunt Morris and Bert Savett. He is survived by his wife, Sue; daughter, Ellen Savett of Zurich, Switzerland; son and daughter-in-law, (Rabbi) Jon and Laurie Spira-Savett of Nashua, NH and his grandchildren, Alex, Lela, and Sarinah; special cousin Natalie Steinberg of Newton, MA; and many cherished relatives and friends.

Special thanks to caregivers, Rosaly and Sahra from LifeSpark for their warmth and support and Dr Brian Mahoney.

The funeral will take place at Beth Jacob Congregation, 1179 Victoria Curve in Mendota Heights, on Sunday, November 16 at 1:00 pm, followed by burial at West Side Hebrew Cemetery. Funeral will be live-streamed, see link below. There will be shiva minyanim at the Savetts' home each evening from Sunday through Thursday at 7:00 pm. Shiva visits are welcome beginning Monday afternoon between 1:00-4:00 pm, as well as before the minyan.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to Beth Jacob Congregation, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, or the ACLU of Minnesota.