MEMORIES | WISHES | CONDOLENCES

Lämmin halaus Lotta, Sessie ja Rudi ja osanottomme suruunne. Olimme melkein naapureina Helsingissä (1989-1991) kun Mari ja Sessie syntyivät (-89) ja Rudi syntyi muutamaa vuotta myöhemmin. Meillä on ihania muistoja tapaamisista; Kaivarissa leikkipaikalla lasten kanssa, synttäreistä jne. Larry aina hyväntuulisena, vitsikkäänä, kujeilevana.

Anu ja Tapani Wacklin

Four haiku reflections

Big Larry rolls in,
grabs a chair and says, Listen!
I've got an idea.

Looking at the sky,
he reaches in his pocket
and gives you a book

My dad told me once
Then follows a bizarre tale
that you know is true

They did it their way;
I got tired of telling them,
wait until it rains.

Jan Solberg & John Townsend

see project video here

To be sure, Larry did NOT want to participate in this project. Did NOT want the responsibility of my money on his back. All Julie and I had to do was buy him lunch...

This plays out well in a few of these slideshow pix. This was a sprint from start to finnish (!); Larry stopped by when he could. You will see a Designer, an Architect, a Leader, a Site Plan Developer, a Public Relations Specialist, a Talented BullShitter, a middle aged Laborer, and my Friend.

Larry Lyle Burns

-may the four winds blow you safely home-

Thomas Leibold

Larry was invaluable when I was in the process of selling my house in Kalamazoo and selling/giving away things before moving. He helped me organize the process, which would have been overwhelming without his assistance. Larry took solvents and other hazardous materials from the garage to be disposed of safely. After my yard sale, he brought over his truck and took the remaining items to Deacon's conference for donation. As for selling furniture, Larry gave me advice. "Don't sell that couch for less that $600!" My large sectional couch was nice and in good condition. I advertised it online, and did not get many responses. One person offered $400. I consulted Larry. "That couch is worth more than $400! I'll take it if you can't sell it for what it's worth." As moving day approached, the house was empty... except for the couch. Larry made good on his word and bought the couch (for a discount, LOL). We loaded it onto his truck (with help) and brought it to his house, where it got crammed into his garage. "It's bigger than I thought." Lotta, is the couch still in the garage??

Andrea Tobochnik

One day in Helsinki in the fall of 1990 Larry and Sessie and Leena (my Mom) and I all happened to be at the same park, Sepänpuisto, at the same time. Sessie and I met in a sandbox and became instant friends, but who doesn’t at just shy of two years old. I’m convinced Larry and my Mom sitting on a park bench that day has everything to do with what is a beautiful friendship of two families - the Burns and the Brookes.

Larry was such a warm, open and kind person, so it is no surprise they picked up a conversation and discovered that they weren’t living such different lives. Not only did they have daughters of the same age, my Mom was also married to a North American, my Dad, Richard, whom she had met in Canada during her travels. They discovered they were both architects too, which fueled conversations for years to come. I don’t really know what that conversation consisted of exactly that day but I know from then on we started spending more time together and having lots of playdates in the park and at eachother’s homes. Our Dads took the same Finnish language course together and put us in the same Kindergarden, the International Playschool of Helsinki. It was the absolute best to spend time with Sessie’s Family and Larry was a big part of that. In a a country where our families were just a little different from the norm, it was nice that we could relate to eachothers lives.

Even when we moved to the States in 1993 and the Burns followed suit in 1994, the distance didn’t hinder our relationship. Our parents talked on the phone and I remember the most hilarious conversations over the phone with Larry, mostly to tell me jokes, before he put Sessie on the phone. Larry had the best sense of humour and I’m positive his wit and skill with sarcasm has influenced the development of my own humour. I feel robbed that I won’t get to have any of those funny conversations with Larry again. What consoles me, is his humour and kindness lives on in his beautiful and smart kids Rudi and Sessie, who at a young age were cracking jokes just as witty as their Dad.

They learned from the master. Over the years we visited eachother and spent lots of time together, even after my family moved back to Finland. With our intertwined pasts and the shared closeness of our families, we (my brothers Daniel and Samuel, my Dad Richard, and mom Leena), have always considered Larry and Lotta to be our uncle and aunt and Sessie and Rudi our sister and brother / sparekids. We were shocked and are deeply saddened by the news of Larry’s sudden passing. Memories flood in and thoughts of conversations waiting to happen that never will and the sheer pain of the loved ones left behind burns daily. We are hurting dearly for you loved ones. The world and your family was robbed too soon of Larry, though we know he lives on in you. We love you Lotta, Sessie and Rudi. Thank you for being in our lives for all these years. We loved you Larry and still do. Thanks buddy for everything!

Vivi Brooke

My best times with Larry have been over the past 10 years. When I visited Kalamazoo I would always walk over just to chat. One time Larry gave me a lesson and book on personal finance and investing. Once he taught me to build a fence and took me on a tour of historic Kzoo houses. Every time he had wonderful stories about travel, culture, people, and philosophy. And of course, Larry's unique humor. All of this together is what I admired most: He had so many skills and interests and connections, and was always open to share. Larry was like an uncle to me. Family. Caring and dependable, interesting and motivating, insightful and practical.

Larry, you have had a huge impact on how I see the world. You will be greatly missed.

Howard Tobochnik

I remember vividly how your shoulders were the best place to be as a child. From all the other adults, you were the most fun to play with, and you were always up for it. You always told me that I was your favourite Lottas youngest brother. You were also my favourite brother-in-law born in america.

Patrik Järnefelt

Larry

​

that spark in your eyes

fusing care, wit, and passion,

your presence, vision

You will be missed my friend, but I am grateful for the light your life still shines on the path ahead for all of us whom you have touched and loved and who will remember you always.

Paul Farber

I met Larry when I was 16 and he was 13 and delivering newspapers to my home. I was shy and he was chatty. We were both interested in art and shared plans to someday leave River Rouge for a bigger, exciting life. We became friends and he shared his friends and family with me. Years went by as they do. We both went off to college. I went to Europe and back. He went to Europe and met and married the love of his life, Lotta. I married mine a few years later, his brother Robert. Through our friendship we became in laws and then his family was my family too. They are all a gift.

Larry was a big man, big in stature, big in opinion, big in talent and skill. His projects were done with vision and an artists eye. I can recognize a Larry touch in all his work. Sometimes little things that are so delightful when you recognize them.

I don’t think there were any strangers in Larrys world, just someone he hadn’t met yet and I think he would have tried to meet them all. If you are reading this Larry was probably your friend. He swept you into his life, kept you entertained, helped you when you needed it, visited you or wanted you to come see him when you could. My entire life was changed by a chatty 13 year old boy. His family and friends became my family and friends and now we are all faced with an enormous loss in our lives. His humor, his love, his talent, his generosity, his big smile and bigger hugs. There will be no replacement.

Mary Kay Turek-Burns

When I would stay at my grandmother's house on Batavia St., Larry would come and walk me over to Irma's house. I was deeply saddened by his passing. Please accept both mine and my husband Larry's deepest condolences. Funny story... we were on a trip somewhere, maybe to Kentucky, and we had stopped to eat. Larry had to use the restroom, but they were cleaning the mens room. He looked at Irma and said that he was going to run up to the field and make his Papa Frank proud that he had peed with the cows!!! Love you all, you are in my thoughts and prayers.