Raymond and Pauline Larson embodied the true spirit of service to their community throughout their entire lives. They recognized and instilled the value of civic responsibility in their eight children. The Foundation looks to carry on that legacy to support the development of future generations of youth.
The Raymond E. Larson Scholarship Foundation was established in 1989 following the sudden passing of its namesake, Raymond Larson in 1988. Ray was a proud husband and father of 8 children, as well as the grandfather of 9 at the time of his passing. As many of his children attended Mayberry School, Ray was actively involved in the PTA while they were students there. He always placed a high value on education in addition to service to others. Given his love of community and desire to help others, the foundation established a committee whose purpose was to award students from the Mayberry School community for outstanding academic achievement and citizenship.
With the passing of his wife Pauline in 2012, the scholarships were renamed to include both Ray and Pauline.
A new foundation has been established; a new committee includes several of Ray and Pauline’s children, 18 grandchildren, and longtime family friends with ties to Mayberry Village. While there have been many changes in the community and education system over the last 30-plus years, the goal of the committee remains the same and is reflected in the mission statement.
Together, Ray and Pauline raised eight children in their home in East Hartford’s Mayberry Village neighborhood. The five-room house was nicknamed “the compound."
Pauline's career in politics began in the mid-1960s. She was a longtime member of the town council, and also the Democratic town committee, on which she served as vice chairwoman and treasurer. She also was on the town’s school board and the park and cemetery board. The community center at Mayberry Village was renamed the Larson Center in Pauline's honor.
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