PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following a gallant two-year assault on lung cancer,  Larry Alan Karlquist, 71, of Pittsfield, Mass., succumbed to his illness on March 14, 2020, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, surrounded by his loving family.

All who knew Larry remember his infectious laugh, his love for life, his joking nature, and funny t-shirt sayings.

He was born on December 3, 1948, to Godtfred Wilhelm Karlquist and Phyllis Ann (Wallin) Karlquist of Scotia N.Y., at Bellevue Maternity Home in Niskayuna, N.Y. Larry graduated from Scotia-Glenville High School in 1967. He obtained his bachelor of science in business administration from North Adams State College in 1982. 

Larry relocated and transferred with General Electric from Scotia, N.Y., to Pittsfield, Mass., in 1978 with his first wife and their two young children, Leigh and Steven in tow. Later in his career, Larry worked for Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin, with whom he retired in 2012.

Always in search of his next project feeding genuine desire to exercise his mind, Larry took up tutoring at Berkshire Community College. He loved working with and learning from his diversified student population. He felt a sense of accomplishment breaking through to his students and playing a motivational role in their decision to keep going with their educational endeavors.

Larry was all about sports. He played baseball in high school. A devoted life-long fan, he enjoyed going to New York Giants football games. Regardless of the season, he was there to cheer them on. In keeping with his New York-based sports heritage, New York Yankees games could often be found on his television.

Larry was an active member of the Lee Sportsman Club, where he held various positions including chairman of the board, chairman of memberships, and range safety officer. Many of the members became his cherished friends.

Larry was an avid fisherman. Long Lake, N.Y., became his special place to vacation. He also loved hunting with his lifelong buddies in Benson, N.Y.

Larry leaves behind his bride Patty of more than 30 years; sister Cynthia Williams of Gainsvoot, N.Y.; daughter Leigh Ann Karlquist and her husband James Brunelle of Groton, Mass.; stepson Anthony Petell of Pittsfield, Mass.; several grandsons, Perrin Edwin Petell, Vincenzo Anthony Fortini, Taylor Jacob Karlquist (of Enfield, Conn.), and Damon Jordan Karlquist and Ethan Jordan Karlquist, all of Pittsfield, Mass.; nephew George Bull of Twentynine Palms, Calif.; and niece Jennifer (Bull) Rogers of Lakeland, Fla. 

In death, Larry joins his parents and son Steven John, who died in 2015.

Funeral notice: In observance of social distancing, the Karlquist family has made the decision to delay Larry’s memorial. Service to be held at Dery Funeral Home, Pittsfield, Mass. Date and time to be determined for when Larry’s loved ones can safely gather.