The Widower’s Mite
When Patti Bender, the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation’s senior director of planned giving, first met Captain Robert “Bob” Larson ’59, USN (Ret.), she was moved. “Captain Larson impressed me as a true philanthropist,” Bender said. “It struck me that Bob, a pilot, and Virginia, a schoolteacher, discovered the joy that comes from giving to the organizations they love…it reminded me of the story of the biblical parable of the widow’s mite, where the widow intended to give all she had to God; this was an act of love and sacrifice.”
From an early age, Larson’s parents taught him about the importance of giving to others, and he and his wife Virginia continued that practice of giving both during, and after, their lifetimes. Captain Robert Larson passed away peacefully on 28 March 2022 in Leesburg, FL. His wife, Virginia, had passed prior.
Their son, Robert Larson Jr., a Delta pilot based in Atlanta, GA, remembers the values of his parents well. “I was always taught by my parents to never spend more than you make, always save for your future. There were no handouts in the family, and we were encouraged to give a portion of our earnings to the church at an early age.”
Captain Larson directed some of their giving to the Naval Academy, while Virginia directed some of her philanthropy to her alma mater, Minnesota State University, and to her elementary school in honor of her fourth-grade teacher who inspired her to become a teacher.
Robert Larson Jr., said that his father wanted to inspire others to have the opportunities he was able to enjoy, “reminding us kids that not everyone can afford to do so. My dad was deployed twice flying the A-4C Skyhawks and participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis, and then flew test flights in the A7 Corsair II and the F8 Crusader. He flew F8’s in Dallas and A-4s in Norfolk for the Reserve.”
Larson was recalled back to active duty, commanded RVAH-1, and eventually took command of NROTC at Iowa State University before retiring in 1986 to instruct for Northwest and fly for PanAm.
“Dad would say the Naval Academy afforded him the opportunities he never imagined and he wanted to offer something to mids they may not get the opportunity to do without his support,” Larson Jr. said.
“In addition to a lifetime of President’s Circle giving,” Bender said, “he and his wife Virginia wanted to do something more.” Larson noted that his granddaughter had a transformative experience during a study abroad in Spain, and after seeing the impact on her, wanted to explore a way to provide the same for midshipmen. There was a need for the Academy to offer this kind of training in Arabic-speaking countries, so, Captain Robert L. ’59 and Virginia R. Larson International Scholars was born. This named Fund continues to support midshipmen to experience leadership-building opportunities abroad.
“What a legacy he left,” said Larson Jr. “My father loved to receive the impact letters from mids, and highly valued the time it took them to write that letter.”
Larson Scholar, MIDN 1/C Beth Miller ’23 said, “I am not exaggerating when I claim that this experience has single-handedly opened my eyes ... that will directly impact my leadership style and career as a Naval or Marine Corps officer.” Miller continued, “I learned from Israeli Defense Force students in Haifa the importance of duty and national pride. The best way I can illustrate the impact this had on students other than myself is a story about how after we visited the Syrian, Jordanian, and Lebanese borders in the Golan Heights … we learned that understanding the priorities of our friends and enemies alike will always give us a better insight into how to win wars and be good allies than any generalization or stereotype ever could.”
All told, the Larsons gave over $1 million through lifetime and estate gifts, providing a legacy of support for midshipmen for years to come. “I am so proud of his lifetime of service that continues through these midshipmen today,” Larson Jr. said.
You can preserve your legacy in just one sentence. By including a gift to the USNA Alumni Association and Foundation in your will, you can help shape tomorrow without giving away any of your assets today. Simply ask your attorney to add this suggested wording to your document:
I give to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Inc., a corporation,
located in Annapolis, MD 21402, the sum [specific $ amount or
property/percent of estate/percent of residuum].
To set up your own named fund, visit usna.planmylegacy.org, talk to a gift officer at the Foundation (410-295-4100), or jennifer.macris@usna.com.