Laurel E. Crouse

AMHERST – Laurel E. “Larry” Crouse, 78, of Amherst died on Nov. 1 at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst.  He was born in Crouseville, Maine, on April 27, 1929, the son of Herbert and Virginia (Thompson) Crouse.     Larry graduated from Washburn (Maine) High School, where he was valedictorian of his class and also won awards in public speaking and worked on the newspaper staff.  He attended Boston University, where he participated in the Glee Club and ROTC.  He graduated in 1951 with a B.A. in English.  He earned his M.A. plus additional graduate credits at the University of Massachusetts.
    He served in the Korean War as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, earning the Korean Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the U.S. Service Medal.
    Larry taught English for 36 years, starting at Central Grammar School in Gloucester.  He taught for 34 years at Amherst Regional High School, where he served as English Department Chair, coach of several championship As Schools Match Wits teams, and advised the school newspaper.  He was awarded the Robert Frost Teaching Chair in 1963-64 and 1964-65.
    He was active in several professional organizations, including the Massachusetts Council of Teachers of English, initiating and chairing a western Massachusetts chapter; the New England Association of Teachers of English, in which he served on the Executive Board; and the National Council of Teachers of English.  He was a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the National Education Association, and the Massachusetts Association of Retired Teachers.  He also served as an advisor for several national textbook companies.
     Larry is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lesley (Jubinville) Crouse, and three sons, Jeffrey Crouse and Peter Crouse of Amherst and William Crouse of Bolingbrook, Ill., and their wives, plus seven grandchildren.  He is also survived by a sister, Rowena Conley, of Crouseville, Maine, and her family, plus other nieces and nephews.
    His life-long interests included reading, gardening, antiquing, music, and dancing.
    A memorial service will be held on November 23 at 11 a.m. at South Congregational Church, 1066 South East Street, Amherst.  A reception will follow at Hickory Ridge Country Club, 191 West Pomeroy Lane, Amherst.
    In lieu of flowers, contributions in Larry’s memory may be made to the Larry Crouse Scholarship Fund, c/o Wendy Kohler, Superintendent’s Office, Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, 170 Chestnut Street, Amherst, MA 01002.  Checks should be made payable to the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools with Larry Crouse Scholarship Fund in the memo line.  Alternatively gifts may be made in Larry’s memory to The Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002.