Not a day goes by that your family thinks of you. We miss you dearly.

I greatly enjoyed working with Larry at BP.  He was always professional, calm and enthusiastic.  He was always friendly and outgoing.  One fun memory is running into him, Mark Truxillo and their spouses at an excellent showing of "Cabaret" on a Thursday night June 18, 2009. There was a raised area at the base of the orchestra seating area, which was decked out in bistro fashion, keeping in theme with the show, with round tables and chairs. The four of them and some other couples from the audience were invited to sit up there throughout the show - they were almost part of the stage set and scenes. It was fun to see them  enjoying the show and some glasses of wine, and I remember Larry telling me how much fun they all had that night. Certainly whenever I think of "Cabaret", I will fondly remember Larry. 

I had a pleasure of knowing Larry at the beginning of my career. It was a privilege working with him. I learned a lot from him and he was always an inspiration for optimistic thinking about anything which was wrong in the world. I visited his house once, he showed me his wood work (kitchen island and some other works), introduced me to his lovely wife and made a wonderful steak. I remember nice and warm chat we had during dinner - at that time I was alone in Houston - so that meant a lot for me.

I will always remember Larry and everything he taught me. Thank you for being in my life.

Mary,
So sorry to hear of Larry's passing. I still remember the first time I met him (1977) and how he was able to make us laugh just by being himself.  I remember him reciting all of the soundtrack from Rocky Horror.  I hope you can find some comfort in knowing that he lived his life to the fullest and his faith is inspiring.
Sincerely,
Sharon and Benny


Mary Lynn, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your husband. I did not know him but in reading the messages from all of his friends and family, I can tell you had a real jewel. I can see that he will be missed by all who knew him and my heart breaks for you. May God bless you and your family and give you peace. I will pray a rosary for him. 

My condolences to you Mary and all those who loved Larry. 
It was good to be at the funeral Mass and say goodbye.
Below is a condensed version of a letter I was writing Larry the day he passed to eternal life.  

Dear Larry, 
I remember when I first met you when we worked together in the early 90s at Amoco.  Your infectious smile, enthusiasm, quick-wit, humor, and intellect made you a fantastic teammate.  You had that rare gift, the ability to patiently teach others.  Not by doing it for them, but by having them do it.  It really spoke to your selflessness and willingness to give of yourself to help others.  We were a better team because of you.  We were better people because of you.  
Your openness endeared you to our family.  You willingly accepted invitations to join us on various family outings - a trip to Astro World, our annual trip north to the Christmas tree farm, one of our daughter’s YMCA Trail Mates Road Rallies. Our children loved you, their instant uncle.  Fun times!
I loved our monthly lunches, the diverse conversations from physics to psychology to events of the day and to our personal struggles and our faith.   You helped me see beyond where I was and supported me in prayer and fellowship.  I am a better person for having known you.  
You were a wonderful friend.  My family and I were blessed to have you in our lives.   
Love, your brother in Christ Jesus,
John

I enjoyed working with Larry - always up for a great conversation and a wonderful sense of humor.  So sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family.

Although I never knew Larry well,  I am deeply saddened by his passing.  His wife, Mary Lynn, was a very close college friend that has continued to be my friend over many years.  
My prayer is that the happy memories of their time together will be comforting to Mary Lynn . 
May God Bless during this very difficult time.
Patty Legler


I first met Larry in 1979 and have been honored to call him a friend ever since. Smart as a whip on so very many topics and always willing to share his knowledge in a helpful manner. His smile would light up a room when he entered and his laugh was so contagious that you couldn’t help but laugh with him.
A very talented and kind man who helped those around him selflessly.
I miss him dearly.

Larry was my neighbor for around 20 years.
He and I shared a passion for woodworking--except Larry was really, really good at it!

Larry became a good friend, and he was always ready to chat as we fixed our lawns.

We shared the (traumatic) experience of rebuilding our houses, too.
People like Larry and Mary are the anchors of great neighborhoods like ours, and they're mentors and examples of good Americans to our kids. 

I'm sad to hear Larry passed, but I'm certain he's with our Lord now. 


Larry was my mentor at Amoco (now BP), in my first job out of college, and he always made sure that I understood what he was trying to teach me.  He’d give me a rapid-fire, complex discourse on something (usually involving higher mathematics or physics), I’d nod my head like “OK, I get it,” and he’d say, “Good!  Now explain it to ME,” as I got that deer-in-the-headlights look. It took a few iterations, but his teaching methods took and I really got it…those lessons and the information he imparted held up for four decades and I still use them today to mentor younger scientists and engineers.  Larry made you feel important – I’m a physicist and I could barely follow Larry’s doctoral dissertation in quantum chromodynamics, yet he’d always introduce me to a new crowd of skeptical oil executives as a “freaking genius – you need to listen to this guy!” – it takes a very smart and very secure man to do that.  Mentoring aside, Larry was a really good friend…the kind of friend who would not just prop you up when the chips were down, but also take you aside and tell you, “Throttle back man, you’re acting like a jerk.” You know, the kind of friend that you have, once or twice in your life, if you’re really, really lucky.  

I had been meaning to call him for what seems like forever, and now it really is forever.  All that I can really say is that I hope that I was sometimes as good a friend to him as he was to me.  He was a very good man and a good soul, and now the world is a smaller, colder place.  I miss my friend.

Requiescat in pace


Larry was the best part of working at Amoco. We spent many hours of fun at work, after work, and around NOLA. The 12th floor was filled with energy from our gang. with Larry as ringleader. For Larry, fun also meant carrying out stellar work, using advanced tech for on and offshore geophysics. 

I always rememered Larry on his birthday, August 13th - he carried off a superstition-filled day with gusto. I appreciated his many kindnesses in my early days living away on my own - through his stories I discovered not only New Orleans, but also life lessons in values and character.

To Mary, Darryl, his mother Mrs Sorensen, as well as the rest of Larry's family, I am so sorry for your deep loss. Larry's spirit will live on in the love shared with him - he made everyone better. 

Larry, my dear friend, words cannot express how much I loved you and will miss you. Through the years we shared many laughs and even some tears. I learned so much from you, but the most precious thing you taught me is how to be more active in, and really lean into, my faith. I am grateful to have had you as a spiritual leader, mentor and most importantly, friend. Heaven will be a much more interesting place now that you are there!

Larry was my neighbor that lived across the street from my house. One day Larry came over to teach my dad and I how to make french bread. While waiting for the dough to rise, Larry somehow turned making bread into a physics lesson. I was taking physics at the time and my dad said “hey, maybe Larry can tutor you!” But Larry was one of those people that was too intelligent to help me because everything he said went right over my head. Larry was a good man and even better neighbor and he will be missed dearly. 

Larry was the lifelong best friend of my dad, and nobody made my father smile like he did. Visits from Uncle Larry and Aunt Mary were so special growing up. He would always sit me down to tell me about life and his faith every time he came by. Never again will such a caring, kind, faithful, and inspiring man walk this world again. I love you Uncle Larry, and I miss you so so much.

I’m so sad to hear of Larry’s passing. He was one of my favorites at Amoco. He was so witty and funny to be around. Fly high, Larry!

Larry loved life and all that it offered so much that it was visible in his glimmering eyes and on his ever-ready smile.   He was so quick in his humor that I often was several minutes behind in reacting.   I am so grateful to Larry (Lorenzo to me) for his friendship, his faith-filled life, his attention to his family and friends, but most of all for  his loving care of my dear friend Mary Lynn.  
May Larry rest in peace in the arms of our loving Lord. 

Larry was a force of nature when I worked with him. Brilliant, sharp-witted, energetic, always keeping his teammates in stitches. 

As a team leader, Larry encouraged (pushed) me to take chances and take on projects that were definitely outside of my comfort zone, and I will always appreciate him doing so. 

I will miss him greatly. 

Larry was such a positive force. I feel truly blessed for knowing him, grateful for his making work-life more fun even in truly difficult times. Oh that infectious smile! May you be as blessed in the next life, my friend, as I was in this one by knowing you. 

We should not have put off that last woodworking project...  I'm really going to miss you.

A mentor, co-worker, fellow old house fixer upper and friend.  Larry, you will be greatly missed.  I'll cherish the many memories of your quick wit and keen sense or humor.

Our hearts are broken that our dearest, dearest friend is gone.  Larry used to joke that Mary is "strong like bull" and she proved him right by caring for him single-handedly, while dealing with the Covid-19 restrictions that limited support and interactions with family and friends.  

Larry lives on in our memories, our children's memories, and in the beautiful wood crafts that he designed and built and we use every day.   When he visited, he repaired broken things and broken people.   

Larry was a brilliant geophysicist, a loyal friend, and he was hilariously funny.  He could make us laugh, as he used to say, with a "laugh only a dog could hear."   When we remember him, although we are sad, he still makes us smile. 

OBITUARY

Lawrence "Larry" Lamar Sorensen

13 August, 1953 – 14 August, 2021

Garden Oaks Funeral Home & Crematory

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