David Walter Larson - Obituary

avid Walter Larson passed away on January 3, 2017 at age 85 at the Health Care Center of Baywoods of Annapolis. He was a resident with his wife, Leslie, since 2013. Born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, Mr. Larson was the youngest of five children of Gustave (who emigrated from Sweden as a teen) and his wife, Anna. He graduated from Greenwich High School in 1948 and went to work for Howard Johnson Restaurant, where he quickly worked his way to manager. Drafted into the Army in 1952, he was assigned to the 821st Aviation Engineers Battalion and was discharged with rank of Staff Sargent in April of 1954. In June of 1954, he married Leslie Cornell, also of Greenwich. Together, they began a wonderful life and were blessed with three children. In October of 1954, Mr. Larson began his long and successful career in the banking industry when he joined The Hanover Bank as a rack clerk at the 30 Rockefeller Center branch. That bank merged to become Manufacturers Hanover Trust in 1961. He was named assistant manager in 1962, assistant secretary in 1963, assistant vice president in 1966, vice president in 1968, senior vice president in 1973, and deputy general manager in 1980, eventually retiring in 1987 as senior vice president of operations. From 1967 to 1969, he coordinated the planning and building of the bank’s new million square foot operations center at 4 New York Plaza, where it still stands out today as one of the few modern brick buildings in New York’s Financial District. In 1971, he assumed responsibility for the bank’s computer processing and research effort. Mr. Larson graduated from the American Institute of Banking in 1958 where he delivered the commencement address. He earned his Masters Degree from the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University. He also graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. In 1985, he was awarded the Distinguished Banker Award from the American Institute of Banking. After 33 years at the bank, he retired at age 55 and continued a full and rewarding life alongside Leslie that included extensive world travel and substantial gardening and landscaping of their beautiful home in Riverside, CT. He became very active in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, serving as Junior Warden and then as Treasurer for many years, as well as lending his landscaping skills to the planning and upkeep of the church’s Memorial Garden, where he will be interred this spring. Moving in 2005 to Annapolis to be nearer to their children and family, Mr. and Mrs. Larson lived first in Heritage Harbor, then Baywoods. He was a beloved Grandpop to 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, always providing them with wisdom, humor, boundless love, and the example of a life well lived. Mr. Larson is survived by his wife of 62 years, Leslie; son Christopher (Carol) of Annapolis; daughter Leslie (George) Souleret of Richmond, VA; sister Virginia Larson of Greenwich, and brother Robert (Muriel) of California. He was predeceased by his son Jeffrey David Larson; brothers Frank and Richard Larson. A Celebration of Life will be held February 11, 2017 at Baywoods from 2 pm - 4:30pm. Condolences and memories may be left by visiting the link on this page.