Laurence A. Lewis

Laurence A. Lewis, 87, son of Milton Lewis and Frederica Lewis (nee Aaronson) and brother of Lorraine Cohen, passed away next to his wife in his adopted home of Athens, Georgia, where he had lived since 2018.

Larry was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Some of his fondest early memories were on the clay track of Taylor Allderdice High School, where he ran the 880 in metal-spiked shoes. At Antioch College, he became passionate about earth science and was selected to study in a (then) remote Mexican town at an inaugural study-abroad program where he spent the semester living with a family that spoke no English.

After earning his Ph.D. in geomorphology and hydrology from Northwestern University, Larry conducted research on soil erosion, land degradation, and sustainable land use. His research took him on months long trips around the world including Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Belgium and Mexico.

He eventually became a tenured full professor of physical geography at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he published multiple books and countless articles. In Worcester, Larry met his wife and life partner, Barbara Lewis (nee Edelman). Together, Barbara and Larry raised two children, Amanda and Zack, in Worcester.

Ironically, Larry was worried he wouldn’t be able to keep up with his children because he had had them later in life. In truth, he could outsprint his son (himself a track athlete) until his senior year of high school and infamously led (and occasionally carried) his terrified young children up the Lion's Head Trail at Mt. Washington. Reminiscing on the hike at age 87, Larry remarked with a smile that he could still carry his children up the mountain.

Larry’s sense of humor defined his personality. His jokes ran the gamut, but he definitely never outgrew the slapstick humor of his youth (sneaking hot sauce into his children’s grilled cheese was an especially favored source of entertainment). Barbara’s common refrain, said with a smile while shaking her head: “I thought I married a college professor!”

After retirement, Larry and Barbara eventually settled in Athens, Georgia to be near their children and grandchildren, Hannah, William, Jacob and Jane. They were (and are) sources of endless joy.

Active into his mid-80s, Larry made wonderful friends through pickleball, bridge, and UGA’s OLLI program. He took advantage of nearly everything non-football that Athens had to offer and especially loved UGA’s concert series.

Larry and his family are truly grateful for all of the warm visits from his many Athens friends who lifted his and his family’s spirits during his final days.

His wife, his children, and his grandchildren love him and miss him, but are grateful for the life they shared with him.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Lewis, his daughter Amanda Kantor (Josh), his son Zachary Lewis (Rebecca), his grandchildren, his sister Lorraine Cohen, his brother-in-law David Edelman, his nephews Mark Cohen (Cheryl), Ken Cohen (Sherry), his niece Amy Kindler (Martin) and his great-nephews and great-nieces. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law Ronald Cohen and his sister-in-law Heather Edelman.

In lieu of flowers, Larry asked that donations be made to UGA’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.