Former Chautauqua teacher dies

Published 11:41 am Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Ken Larsen, for years a popular teacher at Chatauaqua Elementary School, died Sunday after being hospitalized for several weeks.

Larsen was first hired by the school district in 1988 and retired last year, according to Donna Donnelly, assistant to Michael Soltman, the district superintendent.

On Monday, Soltman sent an email to district staff, informing them of his death.

“Ken was dearly loved by generations of students and colleagues. He was creative, talented in music, an advocate for kids who struggle and an amazing teacher and a dear friend,” Soltman wrote.

As news of Larsen’s death traveled on Vashon, a Facebook page called Ken Larsen – Memories was set up and a call was put out for photos and memories of him.

Two of Lauri and Bob Hennessey’s children were his students, and on Monday Lauri recalled that she knew him first as a musician in the band Bob’s Your Uncle. He had called asking if he could donate to the back-to-school drive the family sponsored at the time. Lauri said she mentioned who it had been on the phone, and her daughter said, “Oh, he’s that fun fifth-grade teacher.”

Indeed, she added, for many people, Ken was that fun fifth-grade teacher.

“He was also the teacher who taught kids about math and brought them to Math is Cool. He was also the teacher who read trivia cards and played brain games and taught the kids about the world. He played music to kids and shared his love of singing,” she wrote in an email.

She added that when her middle child left his class, the parents pulled together to thank him with a gift certificate to his local music store in Kitsap County.

“We ended up giving Ken a gift certificate for $375, and I only asked once,” she said. “Parents adored him.”

As of Monday, memorial plans had not yet been announced.