Edward Powers Obituary

Dear Powers Family,



I was so saddened to learn of the death of your father recently, and of your mother a few months ago. My husband Bob and I send you all our most heart-filled condolences. Your father was a great mentor to me, and I always liked to think I held a special place in his heart as his last graduate student. I hope I managed to live up to the rigorous scientific standards he set for himself and expected of those around him. I have so many memories of your father, and learned so much from him. It is no exaggeration to say that I probably would not be where I am today were it not for the excellent training I received from him. He knew just how to bring out the best in me by giving me a challenging scientific project, then allowing me a great deal of latitude to pursue it. But he was always there with support, guidance and advice when I needed it. And he carefully supervised my training in many other career-related areas. I really did not appreciate it at the time when he made me practice over and over before giving a lecture for a class or a talk at a meeting, or when he made me review papers and grant applications he had been sent to review – then he reviewed my reviews! But it only took a couple years out on my own for me to quickly realize how valuable that training was! Few graduate students had mentors who cared that much to see that their students got really well rounded training.



And my memories are not just of the man as a mentor, but as a friend. I fondly remember being at your parents’ home to watch the Super Bowl my last year in grad school. As your father boisterously cheered on the Dallas Cowboys, I just as boisterously backed the Pittsburgh Steelers (I grew up near Pittsburgh). When Pittsburgh won, your father was so upset I wondered if I’d ever be allowed to graduate! And I’ll never forget the delight I felt the day I arrived home to our new house in Concord to find a lilac bush in the driveway. As Emilie knows since she had the tough job of buying and delivering the bush, you father had asked her to bring us a lilac as a housewarming gift. I’m amazed he remembered how much I liked lilacs! That bush proudly sits in the middle of our back yard – a beautiful, large bush now that is full of huge purple blossoms every spring – and will forever remind us of Larry.



You all should be so very proud of your father and mother. They were very special people. Bob and I feel very lucky to have had the pleasure to have known them.



Our thoughts are with you all.



Love,



Kathy Held and Bob Ciskowski

For the fifteen years that I was a close colleage of Larry in the Zoology Department at The University of Texas at Austin, I guess it never struck me that Larry was his middle name (as is mine). So, I missed the original obituary in the American-Stateman.



I owe a lot to Larry. He was one of my strongest supporters as I worked my way from Assistant Professor to Full Professor at UT Austin, before leaving for the Chicago area and Abbott Laboratories. I subsequently had interactions with Argonne.



Larry was an original thinker and was forced, as was I, to swim upstream at UT. Our biophysical interests overlapped, so I had frequent contact with Larry. I have missed him since my family left in 1983. I enjoyed working with, serving on disseratation committees for, and teaching many of his graduate students as well. They helped me to understand the genius of Larry.



He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts go out to his family.

I was fortunate to a visit with Lawrence on July 31st. My daughter, Marie, and I enjoyed brunch with him, and then went to his apartment to view his display of his beloved children's pictures. Lawrence was especially happy to share his gallery of Ellie's pictures. He was a man relishing his family, but obviously a man anguished by the absence of your mother.



We enjoyed wide-ranging conversation; going back to his time spent with my husband Frederick as they grew up in Charlston. I was so glad we were able to share those few hours with your father.



Accept my condolances as you make peace with his passing.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Lense

101 Pinecrest Drive

Mauldin, SC 29662

The feeling of sadness I felt when I learned today of your father's death cannot be expressed with these written words. My father, Frederick Lense, was best man in your parent's wedding and they remained friends and will always be friends. I remember so many fond stories that my father told about "Lawrence Powers". On Sunday, July 31, 2005, my mother, Carolyn Lense, (my father passed away in September 1998) and I enjoyed a wonderful brunch and visit with your father at Cooper Hall. He joyfully showed us picture after picture of his seven girls and beloved wife and told us stories with wit and sharpness as if the event just occurred!! I could really feel the love he felt for all of his daughters and your mother. The memories I have of your father and mother will always remain a part of my life.

Marie Lense Barnett

103 Pickering Lane

Charleston, SC 29414

It is with much sadness but with many fond memories that I remember both of your parents in their passing within just months of one another. I last spoke with your Father in mid-July and his big booming voice was as familiar as ever. We had spoken various times since the passing of your Mother and he even sent me a note and a clipping of the local newspaper covering roller coaster rides just a few weeks ago. He remembered how I loved to ride the coasters at Six Flags.



My parents also send their condolences as they always enjoyed ELP and Ellie's company when everyone gathered at our hill country ranch, I remember your Father loved our chicken coop with its fresh eggs.



As for me I will be eternally indebted to him for giving me ---- a newly minted graduate of the University of Texas at Austin in Microbiology ----- a chance to prove myself in the biological research field. And with that chance came a lot more than just the actual raw data gathering but learning from a master on how to become an independent thinker and scientific investigator. I am forever grateful for his patience with me and in sharing his intellect, conversation and friendship as well throughout 16 years of employment in his Laboratory of Radiation Biology here at UT-Austin. With what I learned in his lab, I have been able to harvest that knowlegde and experience using it in my present research position as a molecular biologist in developmental genetics at UT-Austin.



Thank you ELP!



Much love and comfort to all of you ---the daughters in this year of these great losses of both of your parents.

To the family of Lawrence and Ellie Powers, my heartfelt condolances on the loss of both your parents within so short a time. They loved life together, celebrating its many beauties. They treasured their families with the same awareness of beauty and delight. At this time, friends and family can share their loss. May their memories bring us the joy they gave us during their lives. We were blessed by them and we now can bless their memory throughout our days.

My sincerest condolances to the family of Larry Powers. Larry was a good friend - we shared interests in the Class of 38 and Mets spring training. He will be missed.

The Nohrden family members wish to extend our deepest sympathies to Ms. Ellie and her children upon their loss. Dr. Powers was a good life-long friend to our Dad and will be missed by all those who knew him. Our prayers are with you.

To The Schourek and Powers Family,



Our Thoughts And Prayers Are With All Of You