MEMORIES OF LARRY...

DOOR COUNTY FOLK FESTIVAL 2000

FRIDAY

At past Festivals Larry had always kidded us about leaving the party "early" (like 2:00 am!) to return to our room with friends to have a few beers and discuss the day's events!  Since new regulations this year made the parties end at 2:30 am for everyone, Larry accepted the invitation to join our little gathering in our room this time... at the end of the Friday night dance party!

Larry had a beer and started entertaining us with stories about events and happenings in his life.  By the third beer the stories got better and more interesting!  We can't remember exactly when the after-party party broke up, but Larry kept it interesting and we learned a lot more about this interesting and complex person.  

We all have since remarked that we were glad that Larry took this time to be with us and share a part of him we never knew; it turned out to be very timely.

SUNDAY

Larry joined a group of us (including Gerhard and Grace) for lunch at Beanies.  We all ordered and started eating the free chips provided.  We were still eating chips a half hour later when the waitress informed us that they were a little short on help and it would be another half hour before we would be served our meal!  Larry had to do a review session in about a half hour, so he had to leave to return to the Village Hall to review the dances he taught at the festival (still having no lunch and still hungry).

A little while after Larry had left the waitress brought our food and apologized for the long delay... she also informed us that because of the problem the food wouldn't cost us anything!  Of course we all later informed a still hungry Larry of this "reward" we had received from Beanies for being patient. He, of course, was overjoyed at our good fortune!

MONDAY

The last we saw Larry was late Monday morning at the Sister Bay Village Hall.  Larry was helping clean up after the festival.  He had a wet mop in his hand and was using it (actually quite well... Larry seemed to do everything quite well) in the kitchen.  We all had a good laugh at the site of him with the mop and his "Cheshire cat grin"! On parting he said that we might see him Tuesday at dancing in Milwaukee (actually Wauwatosa)... unfortunately, he didn't keep that appointment.
 

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TUESDAY NIGHT DANCING

Larry came to Tuesday Night Dancing at the Womens Club in Wauwatosa when he wasn't attending concerts, the ballet or other cultural events!  He would usually arrive later in the evening when the harder dances were on the program. We all noticed when Larry would arrive and the energy level would pick up immediately.  We would then be doing a lot of what everyone called "Larry Dances".  These would include: Razvrustanata, Kopceto, Ripna Maca, Abdala, Chetvorno Shopsko Horo, Crnogorka, Dragaicuta, Guisevska Rucenica, Godecki Cacak, Lakodalmi Tanc, Opas, and more.

Larry's latest interest was learning swing... he was attending workshops here and, of course, becoming a very good swing dancer.  

The Tuesday Night Folkdancers will miss Larry's leadership, teaching, energy and... Larry.
 

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THE ENTERTAINER

We remember Larry from earlier times in the Milwaukee area  at parties at Chris Keller's house.  Larry would play the piano and harpsichord and discuss various topics to keep things lively.  It was in this same area that Larry broke his ankle one winter, slipping on some ice or something (memory fails here).  He  recovered fully to dance again!

We treasure these memories of a great dancer, true friend and warm human being,

We had a very nice dedication evening at our folkdance night last evening.  We did the candle dance (Likrat Shabat) and then people spoke about what Larry meant to them.  Laurie brought something that Larry had written that was read also.  Larry would have approved.  It was a "moving" evening.

Forrest & Carol Johnson - Big Bend, Wisconsin
forcar@juno.com