Journal entry by Kathy Kanda —
A memorial service to celebrate and honor Larry's life is scheduled for Saturday, June 8, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. at Pipkin Braswell 6601 East Colfax Avenue in Denver. Notwithstanding the timing posted on Pipkin Braswell's web site, we intend for the service to brief, so that there is plenty of time at the reception that will follow for family and friends to share happy memories of our sweet, gentle Larry.
In lieu of flowers, we are asking people to make a donation in his honor to one of the following charitable organizations.
Partners in Literacy (http://www.partnersinliteracy.org/home/): As many of you know, mentoring children was one of his passions. Although he volunteered with several organizations, for the past 17 years he tutored Denver Public School children to encourage them to read and teach them about the importance of education through Partners in Literacy. Not surprisingly he is featured in a photograph on the home page of Partners in Literacy's web site.
Southern Poverty Law Center (https://www.splcenter.org/): Larry was also a dedicated advocate and warrior for civil rights, human dignity and social justice. Southern Poverty Law Center's mission is to fight hate and bigotry and to seek justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Many of you know that one of Larry's earliest involvements in making the world a better place was registering black voters in Alabama as a teenager soon after passage of the Voters' Rights Act and SPLC was among the organizations he supported for many years.
Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research (http://www.wingsofhopepcr.org/): After Larry's diagnosis and throughout his courageous battle against pancreatic cancer, we were overwhelmed by the number of people we know whose lives have been touched by this brutal disease. Wings of Hope's mission is to raise awareness and funding for pancreatic research at the University of Colorado Cancer Center through public awareness and provide support for patients, families and caregivers. Though there are other worthy cancer research and support organizations, we felt it fitting to designate a local charity to increase resources available to others in our local community who are or may in the future have pancreatic care -- and also to honor and acknowledge the wonderful care Larry received from his UCH oncology team.
There are no words to describe the depth of the sadness I and the rest of his family are feeling. And we have taken great comfort in the expressions of sympathy we have received from so many of those who knew him and loved him, as well as those of you who only knew him through us. But I take great joy in seeing the many ways in which he made the world a better place and know that he will inspire me and many others, especially those whose lives he touched through his work with children and generally being the best uncle who ever existed, to strive to do the same.
Larry's commitment to the welfare of others stemmed from his sharp awareness of how cruel and unjust the world can be. But he often quoted his grandmother, who told him that one has a choice to either choose darkness or choose light. He chose light and when cancer came knocking at his door never once asked, "Why me?" In that regard, every single day from his diagnosis to his death, we were determined to find moments of joy and beauty to light our way through his cruel and unjust cancer journey -- and succeeded with a vengeance! So, please take a moment today and every day to find joy and beauty in the world around you. Choose light!
Love,
Kathy
In lieu of flowers, we are asking people to make a donation in his honor to one of the following charitable organizations.
Partners in Literacy (http://www.partnersinliteracy.org/home/): As many of you know, mentoring children was one of his passions. Although he volunteered with several organizations, for the past 17 years he tutored Denver Public School children to encourage them to read and teach them about the importance of education through Partners in Literacy. Not surprisingly he is featured in a photograph on the home page of Partners in Literacy's web site.
Southern Poverty Law Center (https://www.splcenter.org/): Larry was also a dedicated advocate and warrior for civil rights, human dignity and social justice. Southern Poverty Law Center's mission is to fight hate and bigotry and to seek justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Many of you know that one of Larry's earliest involvements in making the world a better place was registering black voters in Alabama as a teenager soon after passage of the Voters' Rights Act and SPLC was among the organizations he supported for many years.
Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research (http://www.wingsofhopepcr.org/): After Larry's diagnosis and throughout his courageous battle against pancreatic cancer, we were overwhelmed by the number of people we know whose lives have been touched by this brutal disease. Wings of Hope's mission is to raise awareness and funding for pancreatic research at the University of Colorado Cancer Center through public awareness and provide support for patients, families and caregivers. Though there are other worthy cancer research and support organizations, we felt it fitting to designate a local charity to increase resources available to others in our local community who are or may in the future have pancreatic care -- and also to honor and acknowledge the wonderful care Larry received from his UCH oncology team.
There are no words to describe the depth of the sadness I and the rest of his family are feeling. And we have taken great comfort in the expressions of sympathy we have received from so many of those who knew him and loved him, as well as those of you who only knew him through us. But I take great joy in seeing the many ways in which he made the world a better place and know that he will inspire me and many others, especially those whose lives he touched through his work with children and generally being the best uncle who ever existed, to strive to do the same.
Larry's commitment to the welfare of others stemmed from his sharp awareness of how cruel and unjust the world can be. But he often quoted his grandmother, who told him that one has a choice to either choose darkness or choose light. He chose light and when cancer came knocking at his door never once asked, "Why me?" In that regard, every single day from his diagnosis to his death, we were determined to find moments of joy and beauty to light our way through his cruel and unjust cancer journey -- and succeeded with a vengeance! So, please take a moment today and every day to find joy and beauty in the world around you. Choose light!
Love,
Kathy
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