George Larsen

George C. Larsen Of Lafayette, CA passed away peacefully on the morning of January 20, 2011 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 90 years old. Born in Omaha, Nebraska on April 19, 1920, George was the son of Louis C. and Laura R. Larsen. George was happily married to Natalie Larsen for 65 years. She pre-deceased him by less than a year. They have two daughters, Laura, of San Francisco and Lisa, of Walnut Creek. George attended the Univ. of Texas before enlisting in the US Air Force in '42. He served as 1st Lt. (decorated Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster) posted in South America as a bombardier. In '44 while posted to Tucson, AZ, he met and wed Natalie. Post war they moved to Berkeley, CA where George received both his A.B. in '50 and Masters in Architecture in '51 from UC Berkeley. After graduation from Cal, he designed and built their home in the Oakland Hills. Some of George's notable architectural designs are Freeborn Hall, UC Davis (Honor Award for Design, Masonry Institute of California); Student Memorial Union Bldg., UC Davis; Library, Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, CA. George had a strong role in building the AIA, East Bay Chapter into a vibrant, active community. He served on their Board of Directors from '70-'72, and a term as President. Art was always his primary passion. While at Cal, he studied under Chiura Obata, noted watercolorist/landscape artist, who introduced him to the medium he would make his own. He was a Charter Member of the de Young Museum and a supporter of local artists. He was an active exhibiting member of the CWA. His final piece, painted only a month before his passing, was a watercolor of Ocean Beach, as the sun burst through the clouds. He enjoyed trips to Europe and Carmel as well as frequent trips to the de Young, Legion of Honor and MOMA museums and galleries in San Francisco. His younger brother Kenneth passed in 2007. He will be deeply missed by his family; Laura Larsen-Gilkey and husband M. Whitney Gilkey, Lisa Larsen and husband Edward G. Willy, his granddaughter Sofia Gilkey, the godmother to his daughters Barbara Callan, his sister-in-law June Larsen, nephews Steve Larsen, Michael Larsen, Jeff Larsen, and the many members of the Larsen and Rasmussen families. Donations in his memory may be made to the California Watercolor Association (CWA), P.O. Box 4631, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.