Lawrence Korn

From fallen tree branches of Poricy Park, an exceptional ecological resource in Middletown, Larry Korn whittled wonderful walking sticks. Over the past 18 years or so, gnarly branches, distorted by vines, became elegant walking sticks that were put on display and sold at Poricy Park’s gift shop or at the Middletown Arts Center. Keeping the trails of Poricy Park clear and available to Middletown residents became a major part of his weekly volunteer efforts. His daughter, Sharon, from Delaware, said that he dearly loved the park and what he did there.

His time spent outdoors surprised those who knew him. “He was always bookish; he was suit-and-tie; in short, he was very analytical,” his brother, Ed, of Deltona, Florida, said. It was a fun diversion for the former financial planner who, for decades, had helped widows and others understand their personal finances. He played an important role in building one of the top financial management firms in New Jersey, now known as Regent Atlantic. His strengths and kindness enabled him to help many people through the years.

“He was a good listener, he was a mensch—he really cared about people,” his daughter, Debbie, from Massachusetts, said. “He had a deep sense of ethics and always approached others with compassion.” When Debbie was in college, she said that her father gave her the advice that he gave to many: set up a savings account and regularly send a healthy amount to it. “You won’t even miss it,” he told her. And he was correct!

Larry Korn died on Tuesday, January 3, at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ, with his family at his bedside. He was 85.

Larry spent his early years in North Bergen, NJ. He was three years old when his dad, William, died, and his mother, Helen, moved the family to the Bronx to live with her parents. When his mother remarried, they returned to Hudson County, where Larry attended and graduated from the Yeshiva of Hudson County. He continued on to Union Hill High School where he was a high school debate champion, traveling throughout New Jersey with his debate team, and winning many awards. He was also editor of his award-winning yearbook in his senior year.

He also met his future wife, Ruth (Tischler), at Union Hill. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Rutgers University in 1959 and later attended law school at New York University. Larry and Ruth married in June 1960, a day and a half after Ruth graduated college and while Larry was on break from law school. Upon graduation from law school, Larry accepted a job in government in Washington, D.C. but quickly discovered that government work was not to his liking. Alternatively, he found himself attracted to the field of financial planning and decided to join a large insurance company in D.C. Following two years there, the family moved to Morton, Pennsylvania, as Larry took the next step in his career. He accepted a position as head of the Estate Planning Department at a large Philadelphia insurance company. He remained there for four years, during which time he and his family, wanting to be back in New Jersey, moved to Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Then Larry once again took a step up the career ladder, joining Deferred Benefits Corporation in north Jersey, an independent investment and management company. Taken under the wings of the company’s president, David Flagg, Larry’s knowledge and skills of the financial field grew, and he began to rise in the ranks of New Jersey’s financial planners, eventually becoming a partner to David Flagg. This relationship lasted for a number of years until Larry went out on his own, creating his own business, which was quite successful.

When Larry retired, he not only volunteered at Poricy Park but also took on several jobs at Lunch Break, a Red Bank non-profit community resource. He understood that the people served by this organization were disadvantaged and he wanted to do whatever he could to better their lives. He was also very involved in his local synagogue, Congregation B’nai Israel, advising in financial matters and heading up various educational projects.

When his grandson interviewed him and asked if he could offer any pearls of wisdom, Larry said, “In the future, I hope that we can be more kind to each other than we have been in the past, and that we can do more to erase poverty and difficulties for people.” And when asked what he wanted to be remembered for, he said, “I tried my best to do my best and to be honest in what I did.” And he wanted all to know how proud he was of his family.

In addition to his wife, Ruth Korn, his daughters Sharon Rosengarten (David Rosengarten) and Deborah Korn (Robert Stickgold), and his younger brother, Edward Korn (Ellen Korn), Larry leaves his grandsons Jacob Rosengarten, Adam Korn, and Eli Stickgold (Stephanie Paige), his granddaughters Janna and Jamie Rosengarten, Emma Stickgold, and Jessie Stickgold-Sarah (Robert Kindel), and his great-granddaughter, Violet Kindel Stickgold. He is predeceased by his sister, Rita Moskowitz.

Larry Korn will be missed and remembered as a very special person.