Lawrence Waterman

Lawrence W. Waterman April 28, 1910 ~ August 8, 2008 Longtime Santa Fe resident Larry Waterman died Friday, August 08, 2008 at Kingston Residence. His family grieves his passing but is comforted that he is home now. A look at his long life reveals a man dedicated to leaving his community better than he found it and to accepting everyone as his friend. After graduating from Springfield College in 1933, Larry worked at Elmira Reformatory in New York as a sociologist intern for ten months. A college friend informed him of a position as aquatics director at the Berkeley YMCA camp in Gualala, California. He traveled across the U.S. to Santa Barbara, hitchhiked from there to northern California, and took the job. The sister of a fellow counselor visited him one afternoon, introduced her to Larry, and their courtship began. When the camp closed after the summer, Larry went to Southern California to visit relatives. While there he received a telegram offering him a job as a Rural Rehabilitation Supervisor in the Federal Resettlement Administration. He came to Santa Fe, accepted the position, bought his first car, a 1929 Ford Coup, and drove to Reserve where he worked from 1934 to 1941. Larry's long distance courtship of Jessie with daily letters had started shortly after he met her and this led to them being engaged in Yosemite in December 1935 and married in August 5, 1936 in Berkeley, CA. They celebrated their 72nd Anniversary three days before his death. The newlyweds took up residence in Reserve where Jessie had to cook on a wood stove and deal with no electricity most of the day. They had two children, Doug and Lynn and when Larry accepted the position as Personnel Supervisor with the New Mexico Welfare Department in August 1941, they moved to Santa Fe. When WWII started, Larry left this position, serving his country as a naval officer on several ships until 1945. Meanwhile, Jessie and their two children lived with her parents on the Presidio in San Francisco. When the war ended, the family returned to Santa Fe and Larry resumed his job with the Welfare Department. Two more children, Kim and Chris, were born. He continued to serve his country in the Naval Reserve, starting an Electronics Unit and rising to the rank of Commander. In 1955 Larry left the Welfare Department to accept the position of Executive Secretary with the NM Commission on Youth. When this appointment ended, he went to work for Sanco Ford and then Capitol Ford until his retirement in 1973. His one month sales record still stands. Larry will be remembered for his extensive efforts to improve Santa Fe and New Mexico through his involvement in many activities and organizations. He was a Boy Scout Scoutmaster and President and Lt. Governor of the Downtown Kiwanis Club. In Kiwanis he was the driving force behind the Kiwanis Youth Day, conducted the annual Punt, Pass and Kick competition and helped start the Santa Fe High Key Club. Larry was a cancer survivor. For over 5 months he and Jessie made 65 trips totaling 8450 miles from Santa Fe to Albuquerque where he received radiation treatment. He was president and treasurer of the Garcia Street Club. He originated the idea of building the La Bajada I-25 Rest Area and was the Secretary/Treasurer of the NM Probation, Parole and Correction Assn. He served as an elder in the First Presbyterian Church and was Vice President of the Northeast Neighborhood Assoc. He was the first President of the Carlos Gilbert PTA, President and Treasurer of the Santa Fe Rose Society, Vice-chair of the AARP legislative Committee, and Treasurer of the Santa Fe AARP. He was a board member of the Goodwill Industries, and over a period of 25 years, he built the membership of the Retired Public Employees of NM as its Executive Secretary. He participated in building homes with Habitat for Humanity in Santa Fe. He was a member of the Girl Scout Board and member of the Santa Fe Community Council where he helped start a Christmas program for needy children. He was especially proud if his association with the Southwest Assoc of Indian Affairs, serving as its President part of the time. And among all his activities, he surely enjoyed the time spent planting, weeding and harvesting in the Community Garden of his dear friend, John Stephenson. Larry loved to travel with Jessie. They visited the Galapagos Islands, Peru and Ecuador. They went to India to visit a long-time friend, and spent many wonderful weeks in Central America and Mexico. In their RV, they visited National and State Parks from the southwest to Alaska. Larry is survived by his beloved wife, Jessie, daughter Lynn Miller and sons Doug (Donna), Kim (Sheila), and Chris; grandchildren Shane ( Kim), Kyle (Suzi), Larry (Alicia), Jason (Pam), Melissa (Matt), Ryan (Julie) and, Darlene (Dean; and eighteen great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service celebrating Larry's life will be held on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 2:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be given in Larry's name to Food for Santa Fe, P.O. Box 31086, Santa Fe, NM 87594; Habitat for Humanity, 1143 Siler Park Lane, Santa Fe, NM 87507; or an organization of the giver's choice. The Rivera Family of Santa Fe Funeral Options 417 East Rodeo Road Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 989-7032 Santafefuneraloption.com