ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of Larry Lesko, who was born on October 5, 1948 and left this world on June 12, 2020. We will love and remember him forever.

We've created a memorial fund in Larry's name to benefit charities in the Williams, Arizona area. To donate, please visit: www.azfoundation.org/LarryLesko

Larry's obituary can be found in the "life" section. This site is his living memorial, and your remembrances are both welcome and appreciated. Larry would want you to raise a glass to toast a life well lived, listen to music that moves you, and spread love to others.

Larry loved the songs playing in the background: the simple joy of Wonderful World, lovely imagery of Wildflowers, the sad truth of If We Were Vampires, the "jingle jangle" 12 string on Turn, Turn, Turn, the love and harmony in God Only Knows, and the irreverent humor of Smoke Alarm "... I don't want to give the end away, but we're gonna die one day."
June 12, 2022
June 12, 2022
My mom always used to say about my dad's passing that tine alone heals all wounds. Might be true but hasn't started for me with respect to your passing. You were the best!
June 12, 2022
June 12, 2022
In the past year since my old sidekick moved on, a day hasn't gone by that I haven't thought of him ... and smiled.
October 5, 2021
October 5, 2021
The celebration of life at the Aviary on Sunday in Pittsburgh with family and friends was lovely. Larry was there and spoke several times. He did not die.

We all said, “Hello.”

It’s a fine line between pleasure and pain.
October 5, 2021
October 5, 2021
TC: Wow, two old crew members on the same day. I, too, am thinking about my buddy Larry on his birthday, especially after having received over the weekend the envelope with the wedding pictures. He looked so well and happy that day!  The way I prefer to think about him. Happy Birthday old friend.
October 5, 2021
October 5, 2021
TC, thinking about Larry today on his birthday. Love, Neil
November 8, 2020
November 8, 2020
That smile! It was always so good to see Larry because he always, always gave you that smile! That smile was like a warm embrace. Larry just wrapped you up in that lovely smile. I met Larry when he was still my sister Teri's boyfriend. Then he became my brother-in-law. We loved visiting them in Arizona and then later in Florida. But Arizona always really seemed like home for them. And when you pulled up to the house, there was Larry with that smile. It always made the trip worthwhile. We had many adventures over the years and lots of great fellowship. I'm glad I knew Larry. I am very grateful that I have his smile to remember him by. Even now, that he's gone, it's almost like he's still here, when I remember that smile.
October 14, 2020
October 14, 2020
Having Larry as an uncle was quite a treat. He always greeted me with a "Heeeeyyy Joooe" and a smile! He was loaded with interesting stories and knowledge about the outdoors and nature that really stoked an interest of mine in spending as much time as possible outside exploring. I always think of him and Aunt Teri when I'm out camping or hiking with my family. He always showed a genuine interest in what was going on in my life and was supportive of my pursuits. Fond memories of Uncle Larry will live on with me always. Thank you!

Love your Nephew Joe (JJ)
October 8, 2020
October 8, 2020
Larry is one of those very special people I have been fortunate to know and work with. I never worked under him, but was involved in a variety of surveys and PIT projects on the North Kaibab. In his special way, he was the best at teaching me many things about archeology, surveying, and recording, then re-teaching what had slipped away between projects. All the good times shared with you, Teri, Neil, Duane, and others live on in my memories. And, I didn't know his and my birthdays are so close together.
Teri,  A big hug and smile!
Bob
October 5, 2020
October 5, 2020
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LARRY!

My buddy Larry Lesko went on ahead a few months back. Today would have been his 72nd birthday.

We lived, worked and played together on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for many years deep in the elder Kaibab National Forest. And because we both shared October birthdays, along with our partner in crime, John Eavis (yet another east coast transplant), we would pick a weekend in October when the weather was going to be nice and we would head off to some magical vista on the forest overlooking the Canyon, like Parissawampits or Marble Point, and get seriously crazed.

In those days we followed the lead of our contemporary Hunter S. Thompson, the father of Gonzo journalism. We defiantly wore "Fear & Loathing" shirts and scrawled "THE SHARK" in huge, blood red letters across the crew car, a puke-green Ford LTD from hell. We were fearless and totally bulletproof.

Our mantra was best summed up in HTS' twisted ode to life:

“Maybe there is no Heaven. Or maybe this is all pure gibberish—a product of the demented imagination of a lazy drunken hillbilly with a heart full of hate who has found a way to live out where the real winds blow—to sleep late, have fun, get wild, drink whisky, and drive fast on empty streets with nothing in mind except falling in love and not getting arrested . . . Res ipsa loquitur. Let the good times roll.”
― Hunter S. Thompson, Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80's

We all eventually grew up and moved on. But we carried the visions and hard-earned lessons of our Canyon quests with us all the rest of our daze.

Larry was the best man at my wedding in -- of course -- Las Vegas. And Larry, John, & I met in Vegas on Halloween 2003, to celebrate our birthdays to the sounds of String Cheese Incident.

Larry and his true love TC ended up moving to Northern Virginia to work in the Washington Office of the Forest Service. So, we never were very far apart throughout our lives, though we followed far different trajectories.

I think of my sweet Larry ever single day. He always brings a smile. It was his rare gift to us all.

And as I look back on my own twisted life I think the ultimate lesson is this: treasure your friends; never stop telling them how much you love them; never, ever let go.
October 5, 2020
October 5, 2020
I'm thinking of you today, my friend, and of all those times we discussed baseball and music and back East and rock art and lithic scatters and tribal relations and on and on and on. You were the best assistant a guy could ever ask for. You were our spiritual leader. You are very greatly missed. Happy Birthday
August 5, 2020
August 5, 2020
I am so sorry to hear that this world has last such a kind and gentle man. I had known Teri a few years before Larry. I believe the first time I met Larry was at Navajo National Monument when they both came to hike and camp.
He was an easy first like. Easy to talk to and laugh with. We hiked many remote arch sites, enjoyed the deep beauty of Northern Arizona, and friendship. There have been so many people touched by him and I am just one of many that had the pleasure of enjoying part of his life. I wish there was something I could say to help Teri with the deep sorrow she is feeling but I know her radiant soul will shine on. My memories of the good times with Larry and Teri are strong and I have a great feeling of being so lucky for knowing them both. At this moment Larry is cruising through those beautiful canyons we once hiked and explored. Like Mr. Steve Carr said - he may not be here physically but his spirit is always with us.
July 12, 2020
July 12, 2020
We are very fortunate to have Larry and you as our neighbors. When we first moved to our house, I remember Larry welcoming me when I was picking up the morning paper. Since then for the 8 years we have known each other our morning conversations continued on the news of the day. Since 2015 and especially after Nov 2016 it was reassuring to chat with Larry about the perfidy, corruption, and other criminal acts by the man occupying the White House.

Another topic i enjoyed chatting with him was Northern Arizona/Southern Utah and he gave me tips about places to see when we went there in 2017. Having been there twice so far, I know why Larry loved this part of the country.

He is always a calming presence and I know he must be bummed about missing out on voting the racist out of office.

Our condolences to you Teri on Larry's passing.

Ratna and Krishnan
July 2, 2020
July 2, 2020
I will remember Larry from my summers with the Kaibab back in 1999 and 2000. He was such a gentle soul, curious about the world, and kind to people. His influence was a balm for a rough, awkward, confused young adult. Knowing that there were people like Larry — moral, patient, loving, sweetly funny — well, that gave me hope that I’d find my direction, too. My memory of those days is warm and hazy, but I’m pretty sure it was Larry who turned me on to the wit and wisdom of John Prine, which I consider another lasting gift from my Kaibab days. 
June 29, 2020
June 29, 2020
Larry was a great guy and always a friend. He was someone you could count on and was good to work with. He will be missed. R Duane Swapp's words emailed to Neil on 6/29/2020.
June 27, 2020
June 27, 2020
I first met Larry and Teri at their home in Williams while their friend and mine Steve Carr were on one of our many trips to West. Then TC took me on a killer hike up the mountain their house was part of. I slept really good after and evening of drinking, eating and talking. Their kindness and generosity touched me very much. Thank you Larry and Teri for your friendship from that time on. Larry is one of those few men I have known whom I truly came to like, respect and admire, your friendship, your kindness, and your heart lives with me forever.
June 26, 2020
June 26, 2020
Goodbye old friend sad to hear you are gone. A kinder or gentler soul than you I never met in my life. I've known you since '68 back in the days of Allegheny Community college then off to Southern California. Those were the days my friend. I always enjoyed talking music with you. It was a definite shared passion we had. Especially seeing that I spent 20 years in the music business. I felt really special when you made me the oak box in your woodworking class. I still have that box to this day. It's traveled from California to England to Florida back to California and then to Pittsburgh and now resides in Georgia with me. Lots of good times and lots of smiles. Larry I'm gonna miss ya. You are among the wildflowers.
June 26, 2020
June 26, 2020
Thinking of my boy Larry this morning and my thoughts drifted off into the music of Tom Waits. Larry and I used to listen to his album "Nighthawks At The Diner" when we were living on the North Kaibab. He was one of our favorite songwriters. And we respected his quiet grace and drug-inspired whimsical wisdom.

"On the Nickle" suddenly popped into my head, and I dialed it up for old times sake. And as I listened to the words, and watched ol' Tom play what is arguably the most beautiful piece of music ever crafted by man or beast, the tears just rolled down my cheek and I was magically hiking through the crazy world again with my best friend Larry Lesko.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sILtO6LAEq8
June 25, 2020
June 25, 2020
I worked with Larry as a Master Gardener in our 'retirement years'. He was kind, gentle and always had a smile. He was someone that you were happy to see, because he was happy to see you! I enjoyed our many conversations about life and his and Teri's travels as we each had our hands in the dirt. He will be remembered well with his fellow gardeners.
June 24, 2020
June 24, 2020
My name is Genice Harris. I was the Master Gardener Secretary when Larry joined our family. He came to learn but taught me more than words can express. His kind heart always came with a kind "hello Genice " that made me smile. He was a hard worker in the gardens and rarely miss a workday or open house. I will miss my friend and never forget his kindness.
June 24, 2020
June 24, 2020
Larry made such a profoundly positive impact on my life, both personally and professionally. I'll repeat here what I wrote to Larry and Teri when I found out that Larry was not going to be with us much longer in this life. I will always remember Larry for his authenticity, kindness, compassion, way of understanding and relating to people, hilarious sense of humor, and his insightful advice on getting along in the the workplace and in life in general. His way of being helped me to be a better person.

Larry's big-hearted smile regularly comes to mind, often when the Grateful Dead are playing on the radio or when I'm rifling through my closet and come across that Garcia tie that he gave me on a whim as he entered retirement. I still say, "Yeah yeah yeah!" when I'm enthusiastic about something, an expressive quirk that rubbed off from Larry.

I'll always remember Larry. May he and his family and friends be at ease and peace.

Love,

John
June 24, 2020
June 24, 2020
I worked along side Larry (and Teri) during the “golden days” of the Kaibab. I so respected and admired Larry’s steady and gentle professionalism. Our careers took us in different directions on opposite sides of the Country but we kept in contact. What a warm feeling to talk and catch up on the phone with Larry! I feel especially grateful that we were able to spend time together at Crescent Moon Ranch and hike the red rocks of Sedona in 2018. The world is a little less with Larry’s passing but his spirit will be with me forever.
June 23, 2020
June 23, 2020
I had the pleasure of meeting Larry as a 19 year old kid working as a seasonal on the Kaibab NF in 1989. Larry was an incredible archaeologist and a wonderful friend and mentor. Those two summers working out in the woods with Larry is something I will always remember fondly. He truly was an amazing person that made an impact on me for many years to come. I would also like to give my condolences to both Teri and Jesse.

Love,
Erik 

June 23, 2020
June 23, 2020
I met Larry in 1997, when I began working as the North Kaibab archaeologist. Larry came up to help orient me to the forest. I will always remember that day, because we ended up along the west rim, one of the truly special places on the North Kaibab, sitting on the edge of Grand Canyon. It was awe inspiring and very exciting for me, as I had yet to see the Grand Canyon. Larry had been working with the recreation folks to lay out the Rainbow rim trail and it was time for me to take over the project. We had such a relaxing and fun day. It was as if I had known Larry for years. I think most people felt that way around Larry, but for me, it was just what I needed. Larry’s kind spirit and uplifting support made me feel immediately comfortable and capable in my new role. I returned home to my family that night feeling very good about my move and the team that I had joined. Later, John Hanson shared that Larry had told him that I was going to fit into program just fine. It was such welcoming feedback to receive.

During the years that I worked with Larry, he was a true mentor to me. He introduced me to the Kaibab Paiute Tribe and helped me establish my role as the tribal liaison with the tribe. He was very generous with his role as assistant forest archaeologist and tribal liaison. He invited me to various tribal consultation meetings and events, and regularly included me in training opportunities. I learned so much from him. He had a gentle and genuine way about him that was apparent to our tribal partners and friends. That, probably more than anything else helped the Kaibab establish such a strong tribal relations program. Larry was sincere and true to his word. People trusted him. On one occasion, we had to rebury the eroded remains of a young Puebloan man. I was touched by Larry’s kindness. On his way up to the reburial ceremony, Larry stopped on the reservation and bought an Indian blanket, to gently and reverently wrapped the boys remains. It was just an example, of many, of how respectful and caring Larry was. He honored the young man with that gesture. What a great mentor!

Larry also introduced me to Snake Gulch. I arrived mid-summer. Recognizing the enormous logistical effort PIT projects required, Larry took the lead in organizing the September PIT project on the North Kaibab that year, while I adjusted to my new life. We had a number of visiting artists who spent the week in Snake Gulch sketching various panels. They produced some great images. It was a wonderful project. Two years later, Larry helped me with a restoration project at the historic Jacob Lake ranger station. Years before, Larry, Marietta, and Teri had undertaken a major restoration project that gave the cabin back its historic integrity. Teri stewarded the listing of the cabin on the National Register of Historic Places. Over the years, I completed many projects at the ranger station, and because of that original work, the cabin is still faring well today. It was a very mellow project and I recall we had a lot of laughs. Larry, with the support of John Hanson, always epitomized the way an SO employee could and should support the district programs.

I would have to say the most fun times I had with Larry were in Kanab Creek and at the annual Heritage meetings. John and Larry taught us not to take things so seriously. While that wasn’t something I always put into practice, it was a sentiment that I would come back to on occasion when things seemed overwhelming. Humor was an essential component of our program. Our Kanab Creek trips were especially fun and memory filled. There were so many amazing sites to visit during the day, and the evenings were full of great stories and belly laughs as we sat around the camp fire enjoying some beer and wine and just taking in the beautiful scenery. Larry had quite an interesting life and some really entertaining stories to share. I enjoyed his varied taste in music and loved when he would share that talent with us. He seemed drawn to songs with great lyrics, something I also appreciate. He made me a music CD shortly after he moved to Washington. To this day I still listen to that CD.
 
Larry had such a positive work ethic. He was always the first person to jump up to help Duane Swapp, our coworker and packer, with the horses. Through his actions, he demonstrated to Neil and me how we should pitch in on those trips, something we both modeled to our own employees, after Larry moved on from the Kaibab. He taught me so many things.....

Larry was such a kind, intelligent and thoughtful person. Although I only worked with him for 4 years, the time I spent with him had a huge impression upon me, leaving me with joyful and poignant memories that I will carry with me throughout life. He left a big void in our program when he moved to Washington, but the foundation he helped build allowed us to continue moving forward doing good things.

On a personal level, Larry and I shared some very special moments together just reflecting upon the blessings in our lives, for me my sweet daughters and wonderful husband, and for Larry, his child and his soul mate, Teri. 

Teri, he was so very proud of your accomplishments and treasured your adventurous spirit. He told me how lucky he was to travel his path through life with you.

Thank you, Larry Lesko, you enriched my world.
June 22, 2020
June 22, 2020
I remember the first time I spoke to Larry. It was a phone conversation. I’d applied for my first PIT project, the Saddle Mtn. Wilderness Project, near the north rim of the Grand Canyon in far-off Arizona.  He was project leader. I was to be the project photographer and was uncertain about what gear to bring as well as being a bit uncertain, though excited, about this new-to-me PIT experience. Larry was patient, accommodating, reassuring and friendly. And so was Teri when I met her. I flew to Flagstaff and she provided my ground transport between there and the Saddle Mtn. base camp and back again to Flagstaff at project’s end. On the first leg of the drive, she stopped at a site to show me pictograph clan symbols. On the second, she introduced me to Navajo tacos.  We had ample time to talk. I, as devil’s advocate, remember asking her why the federal government should fund archaeology projects. She answered without hesitation, “Because they’re so much fun.” What a great answer! 

On that project, I was part of the spike camp crew led by Larry and Teri. They were clearly a good team in and of themselves and perfectly competent, easy-going team leaders for the rest of us. The backpack to the spike camp was a hot, moderately steep five miles. Once camp was set up, Larry asked if we’d like to make an exploratory hike to the canyon rim. Everyone agreed. I had all my photo gear and at one point I hung back to take some shots of the canyon while the rest of the crew went on. After a short time, Larry conscientiously came back to make sure I hadn’t taken a wrong turn or stumbled over the rim. I also remember that night’s lasagna from a Dutch oven, pleasant conversation around a campfire, and Larry commenting that he was pleased to have a crew that would willingly do an extra hike after a somewhat grueling backpack. On subsequent projects, I learned that the Dutch oven lasagna was a Lesko staple, and it was always welcome. Some time after that first project ended, I received a personal note from Larry thanking me for participating. Going on 30 years later, I still have that note. Thanks to Larry, Neil and John, the Kaibab N.F. has provided a number of outstanding PIT projects. Saddle Mtn. set the bar high for all that followed.

Larry was a Dylan and Grateful Dead fan -- proof of exceptional character! And he was fun. One night around the campfire at Hull Cabin after he’d taken a Spanish immersion course, he told a joke in Spanish about “una gorda y un puerco.”  The punch line was, my translation, “I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to the pig.” My friend and fellow PIT volunteer Ken Brett, fluent in Spanish, was there. When I asked later, Ken said that Larry’s Spanish was quite good. On another occasion at that same campfire venue, Larry, with guitar, sang a song that I’ve always remembered. The chorus goes, “Dear (fill in name), you’ve got no complaint. You are what your are and you ain’t what you ain’t.” Wise words.

The incidents I recount here are just small details, but the fact that I remember them after all these years testifies to the importance of the much bigger experience that Larry introduced me to and the positive impression he made on me. After he and Teri moved to D.C. I wrote him a note expressing regret for his absence from the Kaibab and gratitude for the contribution he’d made to my life. I will always remember him with a smile.
Jeff Morgan
Kansas City

June 22, 2020
June 22, 2020
I first met Larry (and Teri) in July of 1986 when we all first arrived on the Kaibab National Forest as archaeologists. We were all new to our jobs and to each other and had to grow into all of that, as people do. I identified with Larry right away. After all, he was not much younger than me , from a blue collar background, and he was from Pittsburgh, only 150 miles from where I grew up. Through the following 15 years, our relationship became more like a family and less like an office friendship. I realized as I got to know him that I was in the presence of a true hippie when I was with Larry. I do NOT use the term pejoratively. Larry embodied all that was best from that period. He was honest and caring and giving and peaceful and dedicated and progressive and a bit of a free spirit. He was many other things as well, but those stand out. Oh, and he was one HELL of an archaeologist! In addition, but most importantly to him, he loved TC with his whole heart. Their relationship was very special. Larry and i had some adventures together, starting the Tribal Relations Program, getting the Forest involved in Passports in Time as a national example, and on one memorable day in Snake Gulch he and our dear departed Forest Supervisor Conny Frisch taught me how to "embrace the rain". Absolutely the loveliest man you could have ever imagined. My heart is very heavy now but I know his spirit lives and will through the lasting things he started or manifested. I loved and miss him beyond measure. 
June 22, 2020
June 22, 2020
I came to know Larry through his service as a UF/IFAS Leon County Master Gardener Volunteer, where he showed his dedication to helping others and lifelong learning. Even through the ups and downs of his illness, he wanted to let me know that he was sorry he couldn't come in more but still looked for ways to be of help and keep his mind sharp. I always enjoyed seeing his smile! His friends and family are in my thoughts. I know Larry was also special to many of his fellow Leon County Master Gardener Volunteers and will be sorely missed.
June 22, 2020
June 22, 2020
I haven’t seen Larry (or Teri) for many years. I started my career as a Rangeland Specialist on the Kaibab and worked closely with Larry, Neil, and John on several projects. I was lucky. Since I was just starting my professional career, I didn’t know just how lucky I was until I moved on to other NFs and encountered archeologists unable to separate the wheat from the chaff. “Oh, that’s just a lithic scatter,” I recall Larry saying when we were out surveying for a range project. 

I stayed on the Kaibab long enough that on a couple of occasions old grazing permittees took me to see, previously unrecorded, archeological sites. There was real joy in the eyes of Larry and Neil, and I carry that with me today. 

Teri, sincere condolences on Larry’s passing.
June 22, 2020
June 22, 2020
Sorry to hear of your soulmates passing. Hoping for time to heal for you and your family.
Sherry Salcido
June 21, 2020
June 21, 2020
I was sorry to hear of Larry’s passing. He and Teri loom large in my memories of my time at the Kaibab. They were great to work with and generous with their time, although in retrospect they must have been horrified to be shepherding a newbie like me around. Larry was a patient teacher who graciously shared what he knew about obsidian sources in Northern Arizona (which was a lot). He also introduced me to Spinal Tap – what more could one ask for in someone who is mentoring them!
June 21, 2020
June 21, 2020
To a very true friend and brother. Worked with Larry and Terri on the KNF. I never met a man that was so dedicated to his family and work. Help me many times with arch clearances. I still have the Martin Luther King poster ,(story here), that Teri and Larry presented to me when I transferred off the Kaibab. Love these two friends. Terri take care of yourself, he is your absolute soulmate . God bless you
June 21, 2020
June 21, 2020
I met Larry Lesko in the summer of ‘78. I was 25 and he was 30. We were both working seasonally on the Kaibab National Forest, surveying timber sales and getting seriously crazy, living the hippie, rugged individualist lifestyle, first out of Williams, Arizona (which later became his home after he settled down with TC), and soon thereafter, on the primitive north side of the Grand Canyon. 

Larry was a big brother to me and best friend who taught me the Southwest ropes. We were inseparable for over a decade and the best men at our respective weddings. From Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon; to walking Barkley Bear, their lovable lab, on Bill Williams Mountain; to Zion, Bryce; and Lake “Foul”; or the snowy peaks of Telluride; we left no canyon, peak, river, creek, lake, or party unturned.

When Larry decided to get his archaeology degree at NAU he met his soul mate Teri Cleeland, affectionately known as TC, and we then began the next chapters of our lives. But over the next twenty-five years we remained close, especially when he and TC moved to Northern Virginia to work in Washington at Forest Service Command Central. I used to regularly hop the Metro out to their lovely home in Dunn Loring and Larry, TC and I would play together just like in our old Canyon days. We would venture into D.C. for shows at the National Geographic, concerts, or monumental celebrations like the Clinton and Obama’s inaugurations. And we routinely teamed up for vacations in places like Savannah, Georgia; St. Augustine, Florida; Amsterdam; and Larry’s wonderful hometown of Pittsburgh for milestone shindigs like the Rolling Stones at Riverfront Stadium. Our traveling road show was always on the move.

Over the years, I watched Larry’s son Jesse, a troubled east coast youth, suddenly uprooted from his familiar home in Pittsburgh and replanted in the sleepy little railroad town of Williams, Arizona, grow into a confident young man of the world who gave the gift of life to his dad when he needed a bone marrow transplant a few years back. And in the process TC became a mother.

I always marvel how meeting Larry — undoubtedly one of the best things that ever happened to me — was essentially pure coincidence. Or, as one of Larry’s favorite poet songwriters, Bob Dylan, once crooned, “a simple twist of fate”.

So, I was with Larry for a big portion of his life and we definitely had us some fun. 

But it was TC, lovely, brilliant, fun-loving TC who stole Larry’s heart and made him complete, happy, and content — which is to say: eternally enchanted. How rare a gift it is to find the person who makes you whole, and for it to work for both lovers is the closest thing to magic I have seen while putting in time here on planet earth.

As a writer AND a storyteller, I have delivered more eulogies than I wanted, but less than I have imagined. Each one has been a wondrous unraveling of a life well lived. And while it’s hard not to cry when putting down on paper or speaking the words that breathe life into sudden death, the memories they elicit are always ones of joy and happiness. And whatever I say today about Larry is guaranteed to make you smile, even through the tears.

After my wife Inna met Larry for the first time, she was going on & on as we were driving home about how much she liked Larry. Inna is Russian and very straight-forward. She always speaks her mind, very much like someone else I know named Teri Cleeland. 

Inna said, “Larry is so cool, not like most of your other stupid friends. He has a calming quality that makes you feel so relaxed and comfortable. I feel like I have known him my whole life”

And I replied without thinking, “Yeah, he’s Buddha.”

Over the ensuing years, I have often been touched by the truth of that offhand remark.

I am definitely not a religious person. I sometimes say to others that I am a spiritual person — whatever the hell that means. 

Larry and I often talked about a higher power. He steadfastly insisted there was some force at the cosmic wheel and there was life beyond death. 

In fact, he wrote in vivid terms about a near death experience he had during one of his many cancer treatments in which he KNEW he was dying and as he was heading slowly toward a glowing light at the end of the Limboland tunnel, he was filled with an overwhelming sense of perfect peace; and he knew he could just keep going and he would enter another plain of existence even better than this one. But he didn’t want to leave his friends and family just yet, so he turned away from the celestial light and returned home to this crazy place we affectionately call the “real world”. 

The one thing Larry and I could agree upon when contemplating the unknowable was karma. You reap what you sow. And Larry had all the right gifts and tools he needed to achieve the illusive karmic balance known as Nirvana, starting with …

GENTLENESS — Larry was the gentlest person I ever met. He was completely open and this was perhaps his greatest gift to us all. He treated us all like family and had this wonderful aura of …

STEADINESS — He was always calm, cool, and collected — never the excitable boy — except under the rarest of circumstances. And when everyone else was freaking out, Larry was just steady-on and the rock of …

CLARITY — Larry had a unique way of looking at life, especially problems. He could see through the fog and get to the essence of any situation or person. And many times he would lead you to the truth and make you think you had figured it all out yourself. In this very important way, Larry Lesko was the rarest of teachers. And he always managed to figure out the right way to go with an amazing ...

CALMNESS — Larry was totally chill. And being around Larry was to always feel at peace. Like the many Indians he befriended, Larry mastered the ability to just sit and be quiet. He didn’t need to talk, though he was a great thinker and speaker. He didn’t feel that ego push that made him feel like he had to tell you what he thought about everything under the sun. He was happy to just …

LISTEN — Larry Lesko was a great listener. But it was more than that. He made you feel like whatever you were talking to him about was interesting. And you always had his undivided attention. He could smell bullshit a mile away, and he could hold his own in any argument, but he generally let others speak their minds because at heart, he was …

KIND — Larry was always kind and respectful to others because he cared about what was happening to you — be you friend or stranger. He hated to see people get screwed and if he could help in some way, he did so, because Larry was …

GENEROUS — What was his, was yours. One field season, he showed up at Masaw-ki, our A-frame home in DeMotte Park, with an old, puke green Ford LTD, a beast of a roadster with a 429 horsepower engine that he had inherited from one of his many uncles in Pittsburgh the previous winter. He already had his turquoise Chevy truck, so he just donated it to the entire crew, several of whom didn’t have their own transportation. And when Griz totaled it on his way back from the North Rim, Larry’s first words were, “Is Griz alright?” He showed no anger and later concluded, “A car is just a thing. But we could never replace Griz.” Larry never expected anything in return, because he was not a lover of things, unless they contained some sentimental value — or sported the logo of his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. His office, wherever he lived, was filled with mementos of his travels. Larry was indeed a man of heartfelt ...

CHARITY — Larry gave to others because he cared about people in need, and never so someone else might notice. He was a man of genuine ...

HUMILITY — Larry had zero ego. Confidence, yes. But he never needed or tried to impress. Every job was worth doing well and he took great pride in a job well done. But he didn’t care about recognition or reward. And, in fact, he approached the competitive games of life with a bemused sense of ...

HUMOR — Larry always seemed so happy and content that people never thought of him as a threat or an enemy. And this was in large part because of his happy and infectious sense of ...

JOY — Larry immediately disarmed everyone he met with a smile. I once said to our mutual friend Jimmy Martin that running into Larry was like being greeted by he and TC’s favorite old, giant black lab, Barkley Bear. Some people are friendly. Larry Lesko was ...

WELCOMING — Larry made everyone he met feel important. And he acted like he had been just waiting around for you to show up and make his day. And in so doing, he made yours. Larry was a magnet for ...

FRIENDS — Larry and my mother were great pals. TC and Larry were like my mother’s adopted children and TC made a special trip to see her before she died. Something my mom truly cherished. I once asked my mother what she valued most in life, and she said without any hesitation, “My many friends.” That describes Larry to a tee. Larry and my mom had more friends than any other people I have ever met. They say that most people have three to five close personal friends. I was blessed to have ten. Now, apply that equation to Larry and it seems almost laughable. The man had more real friends than most people have acquaintances. I have thought about this often. Why did Larry have so many people who were near and dear? And I think a big part of it was his ...

CURIOSITY — Larry was a Renaissance Man, a fellow who was interested in pretty much everything. And this was especially true when it came to people. This at least partially explains his unquenchable interest in archaeology. He wanted to know what made people tick. And this need to understand others invariably led to great …

WISDOM — Larry Lesko was one of the wisest men I ever knew. Let me give you an example that illustrates Larry’s approach to life. I was what was called a para-archaeologist when we worked together on the Kaibab National Forest, which meant that I knew just enough to recognize lost cultural artifacts and not damage them. I liked finding old cowboy and Indian remnants, and I was pretty good at it. But I didn’t like the tedious cataloging, and the bagging & tagging part of the show. Whenever Larry and I found a habitation site, Larry had a routine. Now, most archaeologists immediately get out their gear and start meticulously recording the site. But not Larry. He taught me to head toward high ground where we would sit and just take in the surroundings. He used to whisper out loud, “What would it have been like to live here in 900 AD? Where would we get water? Firewood?  Meat? Where would we plant our crops?” Larry liked to walk around inside other people's lives. And this insatiable hunger for knowledge made Larry a tireless …

EXPLORER — Larry was always searching for uncharted territory. In the Southwest it’s hard to find a spot where some fool rancher hasn’t run their cattle. And parodying the Star Trek line, Larry used to describe our treks as, “To boldly go where no cow has gone before.” And while Larry was never careless he loved a good adventure and was always ...

FEARLESS — For Larry, there was no canyon, river, or challenge that wasn’t worth at least checking out. He wasn’t crazy. If he got into a hole, he never kept digging. He’d just climb back out of the hole, learn from his mistake, and then go have a cold beer. But I never, in all our travels, saw him get spooked, because Larry was ultimately a great warrior. I don’t use that word in the sense of fighting — I never saw Larry get into a fist fight in all our years together — but rather, because of his ...

FIGHTING SPIRIT — After years of battling cancer, almost dying several times, and never whining, who among us could say we could have — would have — walked in his shoes? And, yes, he had a helluva lot of support. I mean, who would have tried to walk in TC’s resolute steps? But in the end, I think there was one overriding thing that made Larry hold on so dearly to life. And that was …

LOVE — Larry loved his family, his friends, his memories, and his unshakable dreams for us all. 

I started this little walk down memory lane with the assertion that Larry Lesko was a reincarnation of Buddha. And if he wasn’t, well then, he sure as hell was Buddha’s stunt double.

I talked to Larry on the day he decided he’d had enough and was heading to hospice. It was wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time and I thank my lucky stars we got to say goodbye properly. Though in truth, we had been talking almost every week and had been saying our goodbyes for quite awhile. But we were blessed to have one last time to tell each other that we loved each other more than life itself. That was a rare gift indeed.

Larry was the bestest friend ever! Far better than I ever deserved.

And Larry had a most remarkable life. Almost incandescent.

He found Teri, the woman of his dreams, and together they shared a tantalizing and truly rewarding life of work, travel, and play, doing that which they loved the most in the magical canyons of the Southwest. Their love for each other was the stuff of dreams. I mean, they got married at Shoshone Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on the Summer Solstice, with an added twist of the Wazoo Peachpitters Bluegrass Band for good measure, and with both of their parents there to bear witness to the blessed event, no less. Man, that’s livin’ the dream!

And Jesse is a spitting image of his dad in so many wonderful ways. Larry, the Master Gardener, planted and tended his garden well. I wish Jesse and Bonnie the love for life and each other that Larry and TC shared.

Who could ask for anything more?

All the days of one’s life usually amount to muddled regrets. Larry lived life on his own terms and at his own speed. I asked him before we said adios if he had any regrets, and he confirmed what I already knew: he had a fucking ball.

Larry left the field battered and bruised, but with his head held high. He lived life to the fullest. He caused no harm and played by all the rules that really mattered. When faced with cruel adversity he didn’t whine and ask, “Why me?” He fought his terrible illness with courage and resolve. And in so doing he squeezed more precious time for the three F’s: friends, family, and fun. Larry definitely got his money’s worth, and still managed to give more than he got.

Larry is no longer with us physically, but he will be with us as long as we can breathe life into a dream. And he will pop into our heads when we least expect it.

Better yet, try playing the game I have been playing for years. It’s called “What Would Larry Do?” When faced with a dilemma — especially something that pisses you off — ask yourself that simple question: “What Would Larry Do or Say?”
June 21, 2020
June 21, 2020
Working for Larry as a seasonal archaeologist on the Kaibab (1988?) was such a pleasure. He was truly a kind and caring man. Please accept my deepest condolences. I thought that I saw another star in the Heavens, now I know why...
Love,
Donna Graves
June 21, 2020
June 21, 2020
Larry was a solid guy. I remember him as calm and patient, of course he had to be working for the Forest Service. One time in the office Larry said: "well, I'm unfunded, again, have to go on fires, again". My other favorite quote was, once while discussing his move to DC, I asked him how he liked working there and no longer doing archaeology. He said: "it was different, interesting and that he didn't want to ever record yet another lithic scatter for the rest of his life. Larry, I feel ya brother, and hope you were successful. Teri, I hope you are doing well, and know this, you and Larry did more stuff in your lives than most and for sure enough to keep lesser people suffering from serious Facebook envy for a long time. Take care, Dave
June 17, 2020
June 17, 2020
My dear husband Larry Lesko left this world on June 12, 2020. His son Jesse and I were at his side. It was a beautiful end to a life well lived, but oh, too short. Blood cancers shadowed him for the past decade. Larry astounded doctors as he survived tough treatment for MDS and Leukemia. Jesse donated his cells for a bone marrow transplant in 2016 that enabled Larry to live, travel, and love for more years than expected, but not as many as we wished for.

Larry would want to be remembered not for the brave way he died, but for the noble way he lived, accepting loss as a part of life. He believed in the interrelationships of all beings and the importance of helping each other on life's journey.

The word that most people use to describe Larry is kind. He was kind and compassionate, a source of inspiration, wisdom and light for many. A gentle spirit with a love of adventure, traditional music, and other cultures. Larry remembered everyone's name and had a generous spirit. He loved sports, especially any Pittsburgh team, and played guitar better than he thought.

We’ve received so much love from friends through the years from near and far. It has meant the world to us. I’ll miss him forever.

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Recent Tributes
June 12, 2022
June 12, 2022
My mom always used to say about my dad's passing that tine alone heals all wounds. Might be true but hasn't started for me with respect to your passing. You were the best!
June 12, 2022
June 12, 2022
In the past year since my old sidekick moved on, a day hasn't gone by that I haven't thought of him ... and smiled.
October 5, 2021
October 5, 2021
The celebration of life at the Aviary on Sunday in Pittsburgh with family and friends was lovely. Larry was there and spoke several times. He did not die.

We all said, “Hello.”

It’s a fine line between pleasure and pain.
His Life

Larry's Obituary

June 19, 2020
Lawrence Michael Lesko, age 71, left this world surrounded by love on Friday, June 12, 2020 at Big Bend Hospice House in Tallahassee, Florida. Larry was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, on October 5, 1948, the eldest child of George and Margaret Lesko.

He is remembered by friends and family for his easy smile, gentle spirit, generosity, and kindness. Larry stayed true to his principles of freedom, equality, social justice, and engaging in the political process. He played guitar and enjoyed traditional music as well as Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead. He loved every Pittsburgh sports team.

Larry had an adventurous spirit and hitchhiked west at age 18 to surf in southern California. He lived for a time in San Francisco and received an AA degree from Santa Monica City College in 1970. Larry’s inquisitive mind and curious nature led him to various occupations throughout the west and in Pittsburgh, where in 1973 his beloved son Jesse was born from his first marriage.

Larry was working as a timber road surveyor for the Kaibab National Forest on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon when he decided to return to college in 1983. He obtained a degree in anthropology from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in 1985. That is where he met his wife, Teri, who had also returned to school as an archeologist. It was the beginning of a true partnership and a life of worldwide exploration. Larry and Teri married on the rim of the Grand Canyon on the Summer Solstice in 1986.

Larry began his career as an archeologist on the Kaibab National Forest that year. He conducted research, began a tribal relations program that set the national standard for collaborative relationships, engaged with volunteers, and pioneered the management of heritage resources in wildland fire operations. He backpacked and took river trips in the mountains, canyons, and rivers throughout the west.

In 2001, Larry and Teri embarked on a new adventure at the Forest Service’s national headquarters in Washington DC, where he staffed the National Wildland Fire Leadership Council, bringing together state, federal, and tribal governments to address fire issues across the nation. He continued this work from Tallahassee after following Teri to the National Forests in Florida in 2009. He retired from the Forest Service in 2011.

Larry’s love for the land and the creatures it supports led him to become certified as a Green Guide and Master Gardener in retirement. He enjoyed kayaking and eventually traveled to all 50 states and numerous countries.

Larry would want to be remembered not for the brave way he died, but for the noble way he lived, accepting loss as a part of life. He believed in the interrelationships of all beings and the importance of helping each other on life's journey. Larry was not religious but profoundly spiritual in his relationship with the world and its life forms.

Larry will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 34 years, Teri Cleeland of Tallahassee; son Jesse Lesko (Bonnie) of Pittsburgh; his sisters Lolly Lesko Watanabe of Berkeley CA and Marilou Sethre (Richard) of Minneapolis MN, brother Mark of Sisters OR; sisters-in-law Cathy DeLucia (Joe) of Apollo Beach FL, Nancy Cleeland of Arlington VA, Patti Cleeland (Dan) of Tinley Park IL, Carol Klopfenstein (Bruce) of Tallahassee FL, and Kate Ingold (Sonny) of Pasadena CA.  Larry will also remain the treasured Uncle of Joe Watanabe, Joe DeLucia, Jennifer DeLucia-Terasa, Madelyn Ragland, Tomas DeLucia, Kevyn McNew, Peggy Heathorn, Dan Koranek, and Kelsey, Matthew, and Haley Klopfenstein. Larry also leaves many friends and colleagues throughout the country, all of whom he is profoundly grateful to have known.

Blood cancers MDS and Leukemia shadowed Larry for the past decade. He had a bone marrow transplant in 2016 that enabled him to live, travel, and love for more years than expected, but not as many as we wished for. Larry benefited from many blood transfusions and was ever grateful for this gift of life. If you are able, please consider donating blood in Larry’s honor.

A memorial service is not planned at this time, but Larry would want you to raise a glass to toast a life well lived. His ashes will be cast to the wild in the places he loved.
Recent stories

Take Me to the Portal, by Larry Lesko, April 18, 2016

July 17, 2020
Larry shared this very personal story many times, and many people shared that it helped them understand our spiritual journey. It certainly helped me understand his spirit. Teri

Take Me to the Portal

Where do we go when we die? Why are we even here in this existence? Like most people I’ve thought about these questions throughout my life.Religion answers these questions for many people but the religious answers never satisfied me, I just didn’t have that Faith.

My mind and spirit were rapidly confronted with these questions when I was quickly overcome by Acute Myeloid Leukemia and hospitalized for thirty-five days. The goal was to use chemotherapy to cause a remission to buy time. During this bought time we would learn about the possible courses of action.

Unfortunately, I had a bad reaction to the chemo, it worked, but it hit me harder than most people.In addition, I developed a serious infection in my colon that spread to my bloodstream.I was told that one night I came within a 50/50 chance of dying.This is where my story begins.

It was so a real that I hesitate to call it a dream: I “swam” with a dozen or so other spirit beings in a clear lagoon. The “water” was not H2O but rather a fluid oneness of the loving universe.It was swimming in pure joy.Metaphorically, in an earth sense, we were like baby dolphins or baby sea otters completely absorbed with delight playing among ourselves. Unlike these earthly babies we were pulsing ribbons of energy that flew/swam almost at light speed while still cutting, rolling and tumbling in our enchanting spirit games.

As I buzzed across the bottom of the lagoon I saw a rectangular yellow sign on the bottom with large black letters that spelled “GO THROUGH THIS DOOR IF YOU WANT TO STAY HERE”.Never have I experienced such a state of bliss and I wanted to stay there forever.I felt so joyful there that I didn’t give it a second thought.I blew right through that door.

The yellow sign spun like a paddle wheel and spit me out like a flopping fish on the deck of a boat.I was back in the World of Pain, our world.A kind but authoritative voice told me that it was not time for me to leave, that I still have work to do on Earth.

A few other empathetic voices led me on a broad review of my life and provided some information so that I would learn from this experience.They indicated they were on my team, my spirit helpers.Here are some things they thought I should know:

--We are spirit beings having an earthly experience in our bodies.Earth is a tough school because here all life survives at the expense of other life. This inevitably leads to pain and suffering.

--Our goal is to evolve to become more perfect spirits who can help others on the spiritual path. By helping others we help ourselves.

--The lagoon was a transitional place for spirits in similar circumstances as me.Some would experience rebirth in other worlds to learn different lessons in their spirit journey.Others, like me, would be returned to Earth to resume their mission with the benefit of added awareness from this experience.

--Learning to forgive is essential.If we can’t forgive we can’t progress.This includes forgiving ourselves for our past mistakes.

--Managing how we accept loss is one of the biggest lessons we can learn in this world that comes with inherent pain and suffering.Even the wealthy and most fortunate must encounter loss of loved ones, broken relationships, loss of professional status and material possessions, declining physical capacity, aging and mortality.

--The most important thing is our linkage with other souls.We are in this together and our greatest work involves helping others on the journey.

This last point gets to the heart of the matter.In my darkest moments in the hospital I could feel the love and support of others lifting me up and giving me strength.So many people offered me prayers, good wishes, thoughts, good vibrations, poems, cards, gifts, and heartfelt messages. Neighbors cared for our house and tended the yard. Perhaps the best of all is that I had my soulmate Teri and my son Jesse by my side in the hospital. I kept thinking how grateful I was and I felt compassion for those who undergo such trials alone.

Some doctors and scientists will say there are other explanations for my experience like fever dreams, or a flush of endorphins as the body protects itself from pain. Perhaps, it can’t be proven one way or another, but the experience certainly affected me and my outlook on the remainder of my life. I have a clearer understanding about how to use my time and I don’t fear death because I don’t believe it is the end.

All the cosmos is a single substance of which we are a part.God is not an external manifestation, but everything that is.”--Spinoza

Larry Lesko

Zen and the Art of Doing Exactly What Larry Would Do

June 19, 2020
It breaks my heart to share this news from Teri. It has been a rough week knowing that my mentor, my Kaibab pal forever, the guy that taught me so much about life, the Cohonina, and the joy of wild places, has left this world way too young after a long battle with Leukemia.

From my first day on the U.S. Forest Service - Kaibab National Forest, I became his willing and trusty side kick for any adventure he'd cook up for us.The most memorable were the epic backpacking trips into the Sycamore Canyon and Kanab Creek Wildernesses that bound the forest on the south and north. We often spent those trips trying to find short cuts into our favorite wild places, and we never failed. We often pared down our backpacks to a bed roll, leaving the tents behind so we could carry more beer. Yeah, we paid for that more than a few times when surprise rain and snow storms caught us off guard.

In 1987 he was the first Kaibab archaeologist to walk in front of a dozer to save dozens of archaeological sites in the Upper Basin. He was the first archaeologist on the Northern Arizona Type II team and learned many other fire jobs when he didn't have to chase dozers. Years later when the Bridger Fire hit the North Kaibab, he only ordered me up north only when the fire had calmed down. From then on he taught me everything I need to be safe on the fire line.

In 1989, Kaibab heritage team was working on a Windows on the Past Project about Snake Gulch.  Larry was instrumental in helping produce this video. 30 years later it resides on the Kaibab National Forest web site - "The Rocks Remember, The Art of Snake Gulch". Since then not much has changed in Snake Gulch and there is a great clip of Larry at 7 min. 02 seconds into the video. 

Larry and Dr. John Hanson pioneered collaboration with our tribal neighbors. When I arrived in 1990 the Kaibab was already consulting over springs restoration projects and consulting with tribal elders about the Keyhole Sink hiking trail. Larry and John's concept of "Walking the Land" together rather than sending letters back and forth set the precedent for Forest Service and the Kaibab became a reinvention lab for tribal relations across the nation. During those years we were often invited to reservations to share our knowledge with tribal youth, throwing atlatls and making split-twig figurines with them. Larry was even the invited guest speaker at Havasupai's Earth Day in 1998. His Smokey Bear side kick had a busy evening dancing to the sounds of Bob Marley at the elementary school Earth Day dinner.

In 1992 Larry and his pal John Eavis created an interpretive hiking trail to one of the Kaibab's most publicly loved cultural sites, Keyhole Sink. Friends wonder why I go there so often; well now you know why, and why I took it so personally when it was vandalized 10 years ago.

In 1995, Larry took me to my first Grateful Dead concert in Vegas. Along with 10 other Kaibab co-workers we all shared one room at Boulder Station. Dave Matthews Band opened for the Dead, and the shows were amazing. Three months later when Jerry died, I really felt lucky once again that I had tagged along with Larry.

The historic Kendrick Mountain Lookout Cabin was another favorite place of John Eavis' and Larry's. In 1988 they worked on preserving it together. Perhaps now you know why that little cabin has taken up so much of my life the past 5 years and why I dragged my best man David McKee in on the project to reconstruct its crushed roof.

Larry was also the architect of our Passport in Time volunteer projects. When we were one of the first Forests to organize one in 1991, Larry insisted we cook group meals together river trip style in the back country to build camaraderie between us and the volunteers. 30 years and 35 projects later, we are still doing the same. Any of you who have participated in one of our PIT projects will now know why we have melon with our breakfasts every morning; on our first 1991 Snake Gulch recording project Larry told me they would store well and get sweeter every day. 30 years later, they still do.

As most know, Larry is one of the calmest, kindest and most level headed guys around. The only time I ever heard him raise his voice would be on our many road trips to the North Kaibab or on our lunch breaks when we were surveying. Larry would turn on the radio and have us listen to Rush Limbaugh and just for even more fun, Dr. Laura. Within minutes, he would be yelling at the top of his lungs at the radio. I'd say, "Larry, turn on NPR"....his response would be, "Neil, we have to keep a watch on what they are saying, even when we don't like it..." Lesson learned.....

Earlier in the month, even when he was feeling weak and short of breath, Teri made an audio clip of him for me talking about his role as a fire archaeologist. Just last week Larry and I were corresponding back and forth on a Kaibab Heritage Memory project that is documenting the history of the program from 1976 to present. I couldn't wait to share the document with him to see how many people he had touched over the years, without even knowing them.

Thank you TC for sharing Larry with me. Those 10 years of adventures with him shaped my life in ways I never could have dreamed. Ever since you guys left in 2001 and I find myself between a rock and a hard place, I always ask myself, what would Larry do?

I now imagine that Larry is soaring on those updrafts in Kanab Creek alongside those ravens that used to hover over our heads and mock us on our long hikes out. Rest easy my pal, and to me, you'll be forever young.

All my love, Neil

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