Jerome Morley Larson Sr. passed peacefully Oct. 21, 2023.
He is survived by his loving wife Helen; his four sisters, Jackie, Patty, Valerie and Susan; his 11 children, Kathleen (Steve), Jerome, Jeanne, Mary (Dave), Leigh Anne (Gary), Robert (Wendy), Eric (Jill), Nick (Jodi), Robin (Mark), Michael (Leslie) and Steven (Olive); grandchildren, Erin, Michelle (Taylor), Brendan, Jake (Dana) Max (Taylor-Marie), Matt, Christian, Paige, Ashlea, Gary J. (McKenna), Anthony (Samantha), Robert, Joseph, Thomas, Randy, Scott, Brian, Amanda, Marc, Anthony M., Alyssa, Leigh-Ann (Phil), Kevin (Chelsea), Chelsea, Ann, James, Chris and Kim; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Jerry received his architectural master’s from Cornell University, got licensed and opened his own design firm in 1959 and eventually served as president of the NJ Charter of AIA. In the 1970s, Jerry and his Realtor father Robert helped reduce the shortage of apartments in Spring Lake by finding land to design and develop as a package. They moved the scary interior staircases in garden apartments to the exterior and, through thoughtful site planning and floor layouts, designed homes people loved living in.
Jerry went on to design commercial, municipal and (primarily) residential properties throughout the region and eventually the globe, titling himself an Earth Architect whose mission was to save the planet, his true passion. Besides his own intricate home in Red Bank, gorgeous shops, the Courts of Red Bank and the Bluffs which locally express his immense talent, his design path led from villages to cities, ever conscious to let ecology and water define natural boundaries and alleviate strife and implementing attractive and efficient (green), truly affordable housing for all.
His sister Sue recently helped publish his book “Earth Architecture – the Redesign of Earth to Save Our Planet,” reflecting his genius. There’s no place on Earth his pen did not grace. His hysterical (fun) presence is already missed by more than his immense family, but his designs may astound for millennia to come.
Happy peaceful transitioning, Grand Master Planner and boundless loving soul.
Family and friends attended a memorial gathering Oct. 25 at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Lunch Break of Red Bank at lunchbreak.org.
Memories and condolences may be shared at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
This article originally appeared in the October 26 – November 1, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
