Longtime Fairfielder Arnie Larsen Passes, Age 89

Fairfield, CT -- Arnold (Arnie) Larsen, age 89, beloved husband of Leah Dankel Larson, devoted father, grandfather and 50-year resident of Fairfield, CT died July 30, 2016. He passed away peacefully in the VITAS inpatient Hospice Unit at St Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, CT.

He was born on January 6, 1927 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Andrew and Gurine Henningsen Larsen. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps WWII veteran and served as an Aviation Cadet with the 603rd Tactical Control Squadron in France and Germany. Afterwards he graduated from St. Lawrence University, NY, where he was a member of both the men's ice hockey and tennis teams. He was inducted into the St. Lawrence University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995 as a member of the undefeated 1949-1950 "Skating Saints" Men's Ice Hockey Team. Arnie was a sports enthusiast both as a player and coach. He organized and started the first ice hockey team at Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield, CT. Arnie's devotion to the sport awarded him induction into the Greater Bridgeport Junior Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 1997. He was also a ranked New England tennis player for many years, playing many tournaments throughout New England.

He began his career at Reaction Motors, Inc, in Denville, NJ, where he negotiated government contracts. It is here that he met his wife Leah who was hired as his secretary. He joined Perkin Elmer Corp. and retired in 1987 as a Corporate Purchasing Manager. He then joined the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore MD where he was Contracts Manager of Astronomy for the Hubble Space Telescope and considered a faculty member of Johns Hopkins University. After retiring from the corporate world, Arnie became a Special Police Agent with the Fairfield, CT Police Department for 19 years.

He is predeceased this year by brothers Henry C. Larsen and Ralph S. Larsen. Arnie is survived by his wife Leah of 59 years; four sons and their wives, Andrew (Beverly) of Waterbury, CT, Paul ( Barbara) of Newtown, CT, Thomas (Debbie) of Middlebury, CT, and Matthew (Sylvia) of Pinckney Michigan; grandchildren Branden, Emma and Zachary of Pinckney, Michigan; sisters Florence Lindland of Wisconsin and Mildred Braaten of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to attend his funeral on Tuesday August 2, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at the Larson Funeral Home, 2496 North Ave, Bridgeport. Burial with Military Honors will take place at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield. Friends may call on Tuesday morning from 10:00 A.M. until time of service. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Fairfield Grace United Methodist Church, 1089 Fairfield Woods Rd, Fairfield, CT.