Lawrence Sherman Graham

Larry Graham died January 8 after a truly happy and fulfilled life. He was especially lucky that his professional interests and personal interests went hand in hand. He was gregarious and inquiring, personified by his ever-present smile and twinkling blue eyes.

He was an academic to the core, retiring from The University of Texas at Austin as Emeritus Professor in the Department of Government after decades of teaching, research and consulting that took him to many parts of the globe. He never tired of heading off to new places, eager to explore his research interests while absorbing new languages and cultures. He was fascinated and driven by his curiosity.

Larry was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, on July 12, 1936, to Virginia Sherman and Marion Webster Graham. Growing up he was a top student, lover of music, accomplished classical pianist and swimmer. He never quite shook the sand from his shoes and all his life loved taking long walks on the beach, saying it was his best thinking place. He attended Duke (Sigma Nu and Phi Beta Kappa), University of Wisconsin and University of Florida, where he received his PhD in political science. He began his career as a Latin Americanist specializing in the political economy of Brazil. As years passed, his interest in comparative politics led him to work not only in Latin America but also in Eastern and Southern Europe and Portuguese-speaking Africa.

Larry spent 45 years teaching at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was professor of government, a fellow at IC2, founder and director of the Brazil Center within the Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, and UT Associate Vice President for International Studies. His publications (17 books and over 100 articles, per his UT biography) focused on development policy and management in the many countries where he worked. He was twice a Fulbright Scholar (Peru and Northern Ireland). Known for his engaging personality and broad range of knowledge, Larry personified “fingers in the sky and toes in the mud” in his work both in the classroom and the field.

But just as, if not more, important to Larry was his deep love of family who made his world complete: his wife Jane whom he had known all his life and with whom he shared over 61 years of a great marriage, his four daughters whom he adored, Merrell Anne Shearer (and Art), Ginny Graham Carroll (and Greg), Lauren Graham Richards, and Katherine Lugar (and David), ten absolutely perfect grandchildren—Matthew, Sarah and Claire Carroll; Kent, John Graham and Stephen Shearer; Caroline Richards; and Elizabeth, Kate and Mac Lugar. All survive him except Caroline, who died eight years ago at age 12 on the very same night as Larry. His brother Richard Graham (and Heidi) and his sister Marcia Shearer, of Daytona Beach, also survive him.

Larry was a faithful Episcopalian, volunteering in many capacities. He attended Episcopal and Anglican services in the places his work took him. One year he was co-pastor of the Anglican Church of the Resurrection in Bucharest, Romania, under a communist regime where an ordained minister was prohibited but where the congregation continued to meet with a government guard at the door.

Larry’s quiet observant demeanor belied his love of social gatherings of any kind. He often stayed until the bitter end of late night get-togethers! His life, in sum, was characterized by exploration, persistence, joy, curiosity, and an all-encompassing love and respect of his family and friends.

We invite you to celebrate Larry’s life at his memorial service to be held at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 301 East 8th Street, Austin, TX. 78701, at 2 p.m., on Friday, January 27th. For those who wish to make a contribution in Larry’s name, the family suggests contributions to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation Sweet Caroline Fund for pediatric cancer research (https://www.stbaldricks.org/hero-funds/sweetcaroline), 1333 South Mayflower Ave., Suite 400, Monrovia, CA 91016, or Trinity Center Austin, serving the downtown unhoused and where Larry volunteered for some years (https://www.trinitycenteraustin.org), 304 E. 7th St., Austin, TX 78701.