Plan for the Future
Carl Christian Larsen, a long-time Union resident, passed away at home on December 4, 2023. He was 85.
Born in Paget, Bermuda to the late Carl and Teresa Larsen, Carl came to the United States as a boy. He graduated from Brooklyn Preparatory School and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City. He later received his post-graduate degree in Philosophy from Wagner College in Staten Island and completed 30 additional post-grad credits in Philosophy at Fordham University in the Bronx. Carl resided in Brooklyn and then Staten Island, where he raised his family before moving and settling in Union.
Carl was a longtime educator, and firmly believed in the transformative power of education. He taught for 30 years at Tottenville High School on Staten Island, and also taught at William E. Grady Technical High School in Brooklyn. He was an adjunct professor at St. Peter’s University, the College of Staten Island, Middlesex Community College, and Katherine Gibbs School. Carl encouraged all of his loved ones to pursue higher education, and often accompanied his grandchildren on college visits and events. During these campus visits, Carl always brought the prospective student to the bookstore and bought them a sweatshirt, hat, tee-shirt, or other gear to celebrate the day.
Carl was a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Vasa Order of America; Deutscher Club of Clark, NJ; the Brooklyn Prep Alumni Association, and the President’s Council of the St. Peter’s University Alumni Association. He was a parishioner at St. James the Apostle R.C. Church in Springfield.
Carl enjoyed reading, genealogy, writing, and storytelling. He was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers, Perry Mason, and the Hardy Boys. He was also coach of the THS Cliffdivers, keeping in contact with the team for over 50 years. He appreciated classic cars, film, old time radio, and World War l and ll history. Carl also loved to travel: he went annually to Spring Training to see his Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida, and traveled to see baseball games in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and San Francisco. One of his cherished memories was taking his grandsons to the World Series in Boston, where he got to watch his beloved Cardinals win a competitive Game 2. He also visited France and England with one highlight being placing a wreath at the grave of his first cousin in the Canadian cemetery near Ypres. Other interests included Shakespeare, philosophy, boats, model airplanes, Scandinavian culture, and Jesuit education. He was an animal lover who provided a home for stray cats, his beloved stray African Grey parrot for over 35 years, and many pups.
Carl was the beloved husband of the late and deeply missed Stefani Johnson Larsen. He was the loving father of Kerstin Marie Larsen (Vincent Alfieri), Wendy Elizabeth Larsen Richard (Ronald), Randi Larsen Casey (Richard) and Kari Larsen; brother to Anne and John; brother-in-law to Carol and the late Malcoln Brown and Joseph Tsou; devoted grandfather to Cara Scotto Berg (Phillip), Daniel Scotto (Katherine Wu), Katie Scotto, Emily Scotto, Drew Casey (Maddie), Charlotte Ronan, Meredith Ronan, Lilah Ronan and Natalie Ronan; and great-grandfather to Dominic, Matilda, and Rosalie Scotto. He was predeceased by sisters Theresa and Ingrid and grandson Eric Casey. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, treasured canine caregivers Aggie and Breanne and dear friends, including Kathleen Sawick, his cherished companion, of West Palm Beach, Florida.
Carl’s Funeral Mass will be live streamed on Thursday. Please click on the link below to view the Mass.
Click here to view the Mass on Thursday, 12/7/23 at 12 noon
