Stanwood’s former mayor leaves legacy

Bob Larson Donnie Hamburg was a freshman when she met the late Bob Larson in the halls of Mount Vernon High School.

“He was a junior,” she recalled, “and I thought, ‘Oh, he’s cute.’ I invited him to tolo (dance), and we’ve been together ever since.”

“Ever since” equaled 59 years of marriage, four children and several career moves before Larson passed away of cancer on March 25, in the company of those he loved.

“He closed his eyes,” Donnie said, “and went to sleep. For the family, that was such a blessing to see him go so peacefully.”

Larson left a legacy, in his family and in the community.

Larson married Donnie when he was a junior at Pacific Lutheran College, and after graduating he served in the Korean War before accepting a job teaching in Burlington.

Over the years he served as principal in Burlington and at North Mason High School in Belfair and as assistant superintendent in Lake Stevens before settling in Stanwood and serving as superintendent for 11 years, until he retired.

As his long history of public service betrays, Larson was “a very giving man,” Donnie said. And he wasn’t finished.

Two years into “retirement,” Larson was elected mayor of Stanwood. As was his trademark, Donnie said,

When he decided to do something, he did it with his utmost.”

Larson served two terms as mayor, from 1985 to 1993.

Donnie said, “He was proud of doing what he could for the community.”

Carol Schmidt, of Stanwood, who knew Larson through the sports their sons played together, remembers him as “very straightforward and professional,” both as superintendent of the school district and as mayor.

Schmidt recalled that he kept his personal and business lives separate, and was well mannered.

“I don’t remember him ever saying anything derogatory about anyone,” she said.

Morgan Bartlett, one of Larson’s “very good friends,” agreed.

“He never talked anybody down that I ever knew,” Bartlett said.

Instead, Bartlett continued, “He was a very giving person, with a great sense of humor. He was very involved with the community.”

These were qualities many people appreciated in Larson, and they found a way to thank him.

“When Bob retired as mayor,” Donnie said, “the community had a fundraiser and bought us tickets to Maui.”

“Oh, we had such a good time there,” she recalled, describing the trip as one of her favorite memories with Larson. “Bob was so thankful for what they had done for him.”

But Larson’s dedication was always to his family and friends.

“He was always good to me and to the family,” Donnie said. “His first interest was us.”

Bartlett remembers Larson attending every sporting or academic event his grandkids participated in. His presence there still lingers.

Donnie said she was at one of her grandson’s ballgames recently, in which he made a couple mistakes.

“He said, ‘Oh, I’m sure if Grandpa was watching, he’d say, what did you do that for?’”

She laughed. “Bob had his opinions,” she said.

In his spare time, Larson enjoyed hunting and fishing. He sometimes went to Alaska, where his brother was a commercial fisherman, and he floated the local bays and lakes with Bartlett and other friends.

Larson also just hung out, sometimes.

“We had a little poker club that Bob was a part of,” Bartlett said. “We met once or twice a month and divested each other of a few dollars.”

“Not very high stakes,” he added.

Mostly, the men met to talk sports, or politics, or the “good ol’ days,” Bartlett said, and everyone enjoyed Larson’s company.

“He certainly was a good man,” Donnie said.

Bartlett echoed her sentiments.

“I think the community is going to miss Bob,” he said. “I know I already do.”

Staff Reporter Jeremiah O’Hagan: 629-8066 ext. 125 or ohagan@scnews.com.