
In Memoriam -- Larry R Montgomery (T-8)
May 8, 2021
A tribute
from
Margaret Montgomery, Larry's
sister:
Grateful for my big brother who gave me
all the pennies when he was a paper boy and read me Swiss Family Robinson by
the winter fireside the year I turned 3. He showed me the world as my
“speaks like a native tour guide” in Thailand and Turkey. He introduced me
to his friends across the globe and his favorite wines. He was a great and
grand uncle playing Risk, Chess or Monopoly, discussing books, dreams,
philosophy or teaching karate. He taught many of us the meaning and
expression of love, even mentoring our own parents in parenting skills as he
broadened all our horizons with open minded love and understanding. His 3
years in the Peace Corps defined his life as a world traveler, a teacher of
English as a second language, humanity and culture. His prodigious volume of
memorized poetry and song in multiple languages kept his language skills
sharp till glioblastoma cruelly invaded the speech center of his brain. His
life made my world a better place.
Larry had no children of his own but is
firmly claimed as a real father nonetheless. Hasan (a student from
Ceyhan)and Michelle (a long term foster child in our family) testify. Hasan
credits Larry with his successful academic and business career as Larry
provided timely, critical support in his life and for his education. No one
loves Larry more than Michelle. She says “When I was little I used to pray
to God for one of his angels to be my friend. He answered my prayers and
gave me more. Larry was and will always be my friend, brother and father. I
had them all with him. My heart is broken but thankfully.”❤
These photos have
also been shared by Margaret:

Larry with some of his students in Ceyhan

Larry while a PCV
A tribute from Paul Kirwan (T-8)
Our friendship began at Robert College
in 1965. Sharing a room and listening to the beauty of the "Call to prayer
" albeit at 5 am from a loudspeaker 20 feet from the room's window in Ankara
prior to departing to our teaching sites.
We sat in stunned silence with 30 others
as we watched a young woman with her suitcase get on the back of an ox cart
and, with her müdür
slowly begin the journey to a village in the far distance.
Larry and played many games of
backgammon in a Mersin cayhane while at the Mersin summer camp in
1966 establishing just who was the Mersin, then Turkey and finally world
champion.
In1968 Larry gave me the best advice
ever telling me to marry the girl I was dating and 52 years later he proved
himself right.
Over the last few years my wife and I
have gotten together in Florida at his family's house, my place and with
other RPCV's here in Florida.
I saw Larry just a few weeks ago but it
was not a good day for him.
Larry bey, dahaden kardasim, huzur
icinde yatsin.
Paul Kirwan
May 9, 2021