Obituary of Peter Larr

Peter Larr of Rye, New York, son of Colonel David Larr, DSC, DSM, and Marjorie Kathleen Hearne Larr, died on December 16, 2019 at Greenwich Hospital, from ALS. Born on January 17, 1939 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana, his first home was in Lafayette, Indiana. With a stop, before the outbreak of WWII in Arlington, Virginia, he spent the war years in Watertown, New York, followed by two years in Tokyo, japan. After the death of his father in 1947, he attended school in Toronto, Canada before returning to Watertown. Starting in September 1953, he attended The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Connecticut on a full scholarship where he was a member of the school Debating Team and where he played on the varsity soccer and track teams as well as singing in the choir and glee club. Graduating as a junior from Hotchkiss in 1956, he entered Princeton University on a scholarship. He majored in Political Science with a minor in Middle Eastern Affairs. For two years he was an occasional starter on the university rugby team, which ended with an injury. On July 7, 1962, in Rye, New York, he married Rosamond Holmes Woodfield, a marriage which lasted 57years until his death. They had three children: Alexia Larr Duker (Richard), Diana Kirsten Larr and David Hearne Larr (Cornelia). He was grandfather to Peter, Katie and Courtney Duker, Dylan, Madison and Parker Gabriel and David and Natalia Larr. In September 1960, Peter began a 40-year career at the Chase Manhattan Bank, with posts overseas in London, England, Beirut, Lebanon and Hong Kong. After his first year in the bank, he went on active duty in New Jersey National Guard during 1961 and 1962. Upon his return to the bank, he served in many capacities over the years as the Executive responsible for specialized business units such as Land Transportation Division, the market leading Commodity Financing Division, and the Domestic Institutional Banking Group. Reaching the title of Senior vice President, his management skills were tested by diverse functions managing upward of 950 staff members as well as being the Executive responsible for the industry- famous Chase Manhattan Bank training program with branches in London, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico and Rio de Janeiro. The last ten years of his career were focused upon credit and market risk management, being responsible for the creation and administration of policy, the integrity of the risk rating systems, management of the reserve setting process, and a short stint managing the banks workout division. Late in his career, he was the Chief Credit Officer for the bank’s risk exposures in Asia. Over the years he was active in various banking industry trade groups, serving as Chairman of the Corporate Banking Division of the American Bankers Association, President of Robert Morris Associates, New York and member of the Board of Directors of the Robert Morris Associates National Organization. He was a member of the Association of Reserve City Bankers and Chairman of it Payments System Committee. He wrote for various trade journals over the years, three times winner of the annual award for best article in the RMA Journal of Commercial Lending. He frequently spoke at meetings and universities around the world for sponsors such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asia Society, the Polish Bankers Association travelling to places such as St. Petersburg, Russia, Warsaw, Poland, Jakarta, and Bangkok, Thailand. He covered various topics including the future of Asia’s Cities, Sources of Capital for Asia/Pacific Growth and Technology and It’s Developing Role in Wholesale Banking. Peter was also a board member of the British Schools and Universities Foundation. He was active in his Rye community. He established the first Rye-Playland Committee. He served nineteen years on the Rye Planning Commission, eight years with the Rye Human Rights Commission, and was a Trustee of the Rye Historical Society and Sub-Committee Chairman of the Rye City Board of Education Excellence Committee. He was very active in local politics and served as Vice President for the League of Women Voters of Rye, Rye Brook and Port Chester for over twelve years. He was also a Board Member of “5 Steps to 5”, a non-profit dedicated to helping young Hispanic parents help their children learn the benefits of reading and reading comprehension from birth until kindergarten. He is survived by his wife, Roz, his three children, and their spouses and children. He was predeceased by his brother David Rea Larr. A memorial service will be held in the new year. Donations may be made in his memory to the ALS Foundation.