Janet Larsen

Janet Larsen, 79, a life-long patron of the arts and civic leader in Hartford, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at her home in Bloomfield after a long and brave struggle with several health issues. Jan was born March 24, 1939 to Harriet and Murray McCaslin, an ophthalmologist in Pittsburgh, PA. After graduating from Shady Side Academy, she was off to Wellesley College, where she graduated in 1960 with a major in English. It was there that she found her two loves in life, the literary arts and her future husband, Christopher Larsen. They were married in November 1960, while Chris was serving in the U.S. Army Security Agency. They settled in West Hartford in 1963, where Chris went to work for the West Hartford Publishing Company (later imprint/The West Hartford News). Jan began her almost 50-year relationship with the Hartford Stage Company in 1969 as a member of the Executive Committee (1969-84, 1991-94). She would go on to serve as Vice President (1973-77), Treasurer (1975-76), and the first woman President (1977-80), before becoming an Honorary Board member in 1984, and most recently a Life Member. In 1991 she was elected president to succeed “Sunny” Roberts, co-founder of The Edward C. & Ann T. Roberts Foundation, having served on its board since 1981. She stepped down from the presidency in 1999, and retired as a director in 2007. Jan also cared deeply for the Hill-Stead Museum where she was elected as its first President from 1984-87, and served on its Board of Governors (1984-88). In addition, she has been part of the Mortenson Library Board of Visitors at the University of Hartford since 1991, a member of the Connecticut Valley Garden Club since 1969 and a member, then sustainer, of the Junior League of Hartford since 1966. She would remind family that her first civic role in Hartford was serving in 1966 as the Vice Chairman of Volunteers for the 7 C’s (Central Connecticut Communities Cultural, Civic & Charitable Corp.), the forerunner of the Greater Harford Arts Council. The arts remained her true passion throughout her life. The rotating stack of books and magazines by her bed, monthly trips to New York City to see plays and an unending love of movies occupied any free time. not spent caring for her family and home.While excelling in civics and the arts, she was a master of the house. She nurtured caring, inquisitiveness, and exploration in her children, while maintaining an order of home that was a wonder to marvel, dovetailing with the skills of her husband. Janet is survived by her husband, Christopher Larsen, her sons Mark (Dawn), Todd (Kim) and Chad (Rafina). She is also survived by grandchildren Trevor, Spencer, Katherine and Sarah, along with sister Ellen Jane (Carl) Srodes and brother, Scott (Ellen) McCaslin.

A celebration of life will be held at Hartford Golf Club at noon on May 30th.. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to the Hartford Stage Company, 50 Church St., Hartford, 06103 or Hill-Stead Museum, 35 Mountain Road, Farmington, CT 06032. The D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, Wethersfield has been entrusted with arrangements. To share a memory of Jan with her family, please visit www.desopo.com. .