Arlington civic figure dies

By Brian Kelly

Herald Writer

ARLINGTON — John Larson, Arlington’s mayor from 1982 to 1990 and a behind-the-scenes champion for children and athletic fields, died Monday. He was 63.

The loss is evident in Arlington. Flags are now flying at half-staff and will stay that way until Larson’s funeral on Monday.

Mayor Bob Kraski said he was "greatly saddened" by the news of Larson’s passing.

"John was a kind and uncomplicated man. He accomplished many things as mayor because those were the right things to do for the city and the citizens of Arlington," Kraski said.

"He never pushed an agenda. He did things for one purely selfless reason — it made the city a better place," he said.

Larson, a 27-year employee of Snohomish County PUD, began serving Arlington as a volunteer firefighter in 1961. He later became fire chief, and was thrown into the mayor’s race when a group of citizens — without Larson knowing — decided one weekend to make him a write-in candidate during the 1981 election.

Larson advanced through the primary and won the election in November. Voters kept him in office until he resigned because of health reasons in 1990.

While mayor, Larson worked tirelessly for more sports fields and other athletic improvements in town. He was also instrumental in bringing a Boys &Girls Club branch to Arlington, said his son, Mike Larson.

But his father didn’t seek the spotlight or trumpet his own accomplishments, his son added.

"He was humble. He didn’t want to take credit for anything. He was really a small-town guy," Mike Larson said.

But that didn’t mean he was a pushover. His son recalled his father’s nickname, O.J. Larson. The O.J. meant "Ornery John."

"He didn’t care what anyone thought, not one bit. I think he was named in 46 lawsuits, and he couldn’t have cared less. He said what are they going to take? He really didn’t care," his son said. "He knew he was doing it for the right reasons."

"He was what he was. He was a good guy, no pretenses," said Margaret Larson, John’s wife of 44 years.

"He really cared for the people," she said, recalling the summer picnics he would host for the people he knew at City Hall, then another picnic for the folks at the fire department, and then another for his acquaintances at the PUD.

He also stayed close to the roots put down by his Swedish grandfather in Arlington. Margaret and John Larson were high school sweethearts who got married after they graduated in 1956.

John Larson had been a fullback on Arlington’s football team and one of the best in the league, said Larry Munizza, his high school football coach.

"He was fast, and he was big, and he was strong. And back in those days, that was pretty good," Munizza said.

Larson stepped down from public office and retired from the PUD because of health problems. He had multiple small strokes from hypertension, and he had been under care at a nursing home for the past eight years. His health continued to deteriorate until he died of pneumonia early Monday morning.

His family said he approached his declining health in the same way he tackled other things in his life: in a no-nonsense and straight-ahead manner.

"He never would have felt sorry for himself," his wife said.

Larson is survived by his wife and son; a daughter, Mary Lee; daughter-in-law, Carol; grandchildren Joel, Ben, Anna and Jenni; a sister and two brothers.

The family is planning his burial for Monday at noon, and a service for friends and family will be at 2 p.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Arlington. Visitation is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday at Weller Funeral Home in Arlington.

You can call Herald Writer Brian Kelly at 425-339-3422 or send e-mail to kelly@heraldnet.com.

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