Obituary: Jack Larkin

Jack Larkin
February 14, 1927 to August 26, 2014
Jack Larkin, a resident of the San Lorenzo Valley for 50 years, passed away on Aug. 26, 2014, in Santa Clara at the age of 87. His wife of 66 years, Martha Larkin, died in January.
Jack was born in Florence, Kan. in 1927.
After graduation from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served in combat in the Pacific until the end of World War II.
Following his discharge from the Navy, he enrolled at Kansas State Teachers’ College (now Emporia State University) in Emporia, Kan., where he met Marty, played end on the football team, and was a conference champion discus thrower on the track team.
After graduation, he began a long career as a public school teacher and coach, during which he touched the lives of thousands of students.
After a few years of teaching in Kansas, Jack and Marty moved to what was then West Germany, where he taught and coached sports teams at Stuttgart American High School in the American Zone of Occupation.
He returned to the United States in 1961 with Marty and their two children — both of whom were born in Germany.
After earning a master’s degree from Kansas State Teachers’ College, he moved his family to San Jose, and then to Ben Lomond in 1964.
He taught and coached at Juan Cabrillo Intermediate School in Santa Clara until his retirement in 1987.
Following his retirement, he and Marty were active for many years in the Felton Cemetery Association and other local organizations.
He was an avid runner for much of his adult life and loved all sports. His many friends in the Valley will remember him for his kind and caring nature.
He is survived by his brother Ronald, and his wife Georganna, of Georgetown, Tex.; his son Chris, and his wife Joan Kupersmith Larkin, of Los Angeles; his daughter Lyn, of Honolulu, Hawaii; and two grandsons, Michael Larkin of Arlington, Va. and Andrew Larkin of Los Angeles.