LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of The Honorable William M.
Larsen, renowned public servant, distinguished citizen and devoted
member of his community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to mourn publicly the
death of certain prominent individuals whose valued contributions to
their community and their profession served to enhance the quality of
life in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, William M. Larsen, Mayor of Interlaken, New York, died on
Wednesday, May 18th, 2016, at the age of 68; and
WHEREAS, William M. Larsen was born in Auburn, New York, on February
22nd, 1948 to the late Laverne and Ruth Phillips Larsen; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from Interlaken High School in 1966, William
M. Larsen began his long and industrious career as a mental health ther-
apy aide at Sampson State Hospital; he then transferred to Willard State
Hospital where he worked until his retirement; and
WHEREAS, In addition, William M. Larsen served as a rural mail carrier
for the Interlaken Post Office, retiring after 20 years of service; and
WHEREAS, From 1978 -1982, William M. Larsen served as a Trustee for
the Village of Interlaken; well-liked and respected by his neighbors, he
was then elected to the esteemed position of Mayor of Interlaken, a
title he held for 34 consecutive years; and
WHEREAS, In this leadership capacity, Mayor William M. Larsen not only
brought his expertise to every task, he brought his passion, enthusiasm
and experience; and
WHEREAS, Mayor William M. Larsen truly embodied the role of public
servant, serving the Village of Interlaken, the State of New York and
the Federal Government; and
WHEREAS, When he was not serving his constituents, Mayor William M.
Larsen worked as a general contractor, cooked at the local Quick Shoppe
and was very active with the Community Action Group; and
WHEREAS, A man of many interests and passions, Mayor William M. Larsen
enjoyed spending time outdoors, toiling in his garden and feeding the
birds, squirrels and other stray animals; he also liked to make objects
out of wood, watch NASCAR races and cheer for his beloved Yankees; and
WHEREAS, Above all, Mayor William M. Larsen loved his family and
friends; he visited and drank coffee with his friends in the morning and
relished inviting his family to come home for gatherings and events; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by son-in-law, Frank; a stepson, Jimmy "Peaches";
and a granddaughter, Sierra, Mayor William M. Larsen is survived by his
wife of 41 years, Patricia; their daughter, Karrie (Brad); his four
stepchildren, Regina, Bobby (Tina), Jeff (Karen) and Danielle (Ken); 11
grandchildren; one great-grandson; two brothers, Robert (Cathy) and
James and five sisters, Sandra, Margaret, Helen, Carol and Mary (Ken);
as well as a very large extended family; and
WHEREAS, Mayor William M. Larsen was sincerely loved and greatly
respected by all those with whom he worked; committed to his community,
the people he represented, his State and his Nation; he served his
public with dignity, dedication and incisive wisdom; and
WHEREAS, Over a long and meritorious life of service on behalf of
others, Mayor William M. Larsen was a man of action, integrity and
commitment, whose true compassion was generously given to all who knew
him; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Mayor William M. Larsen leaves behind a legacy which will
long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory
to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of The Honorable William M. Larsen, renowned public
servant, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of The Honorable William M. Larsen.