PEIK LARSEN RIP. Great and deeply compassionate and generous person : loving father and husband; always professional in his work roles; dedicated coach; teacher; mentor... and my graceful and gracious student back at CRLS. As a Black Ameri-Asian infant from a So Vietnamese orphanage, Peik was adopted by Rikk and Pam Larsen during the dreadful wars bitter ending days. Whisked out of then Siagon (now Ho Chi MINH City) on one of two rescue evacuation airlifts for forsaken orphans-- the first of which crash on takeoff!!!!! Peik miraculously dodged yet another bullet. Despite this God awful beginning to his life as an unwanted Ameri-asian black child in Vietnamese culture, young Peik triumphed over abandonment and then polio-- disabling his leg(s--) to become an avid child gymnast. He struggled somewhat and then thrived as a student throughout his time at the CPSD programs. Peik was a happy, joy filled survivor of utterly calamitous beginning that should have entirely disabled him physically and emotionally with unmitigated PTSD. Peik was the entire opposite: full of optimism, faith and hope and an abiding trust in human kind. Peik was always explicitly grateful for all the gifts his life and his adoring and devoted adopted family provided him. He was determined to make this a better world for all that followed behind him. He made maximum use out of all of it embracing life fully and wisely. Peik died of a sudden illness as of yet undetermined origin. Details scattered and unclear. Was said to be having sudden and serious gastrointestinal disorder after eating (out apparently). Went to bed to find relief and tragically succumbed to whatever toxicity his body had consumed. At least those are the facts I have received via phone and internet up here in the Pocono Mts. I am bereft and feel a deep and heartfelt sadness. I feel this to my very core being at this grievous sudden and entirely unexpected loss. Tearful prayers for his charming, beautiful dedicated and talented wife (whose name escapes me in my grief), his two adorable young boys, and his entire Larsen family and for his many devoted friends, co-workers and classmates. May God grant peace of mind and much needed serenity to us all for this inexplicable demise. Baruche Aschem
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:33:53 +0000