Lawrence M. Halpern, Ph.D, 78, died peacefully in his home December 21st.
Born in New York on July 3, 1931, Larry lived a large life and touched the lives of many. After graduating from Bronx High School of Science, Larry joined the Navy Corps. Later Larry attended Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He was an Emeritus Associate Professor at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology from 1965 to 2005. A pioneer in the world of pain management, Larry was a published, international lecturer and founding member of Hospice of Seattle. He also served on the board of many organizations.
Larry was a patron of the arts, a board member of the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, and supported many individual musicians. He loved sailing and traveling with his wife Gail; was an avid photographer; a food lover who loved to cook, and a ham radio enthusiast. In short, Larry was a true renaissance man. He was a talented saxophone and flute player whose deep passion for music permeated all aspects of his life, leading him at 55 to attend Cornish College of the Arts, studying Jazz Performance. He attended the Centrum Jazz Workshop for many years, and became a member of the Seattle Flute Society, the NW School of Music Flute Choir, and Jim Knapp’s Big Band.
Larry is survived by his wife Gail Arshon Halpern, his children Gordon Raphael, Lisa Halpern and her husband Jose J. Gonzales, Cherron Halpern, and his niece Anne Rosenbaum. Services have been set for 11:00a.m. on Wednesday, December 23rd at the Herzl Memorial Park, 16501 Dayton Avenue, Seattle, WA 98133. Remembrances may be sent to Hospice of Seattle or Swedish Hospice.