[Stoves] Fwd: A toast to Larry (with Pepsi of course)

Sun Aug 8 22:24:17 CDT 2021

Great tributes from Dean and Friends

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dean Still <deankstill at gmail.com>
Date: August 8, 2021 at 6:38:21 PM PDT
Subject: Re: A toast to Larry (with Pepsi of course)

Dr. Larry Winiarski, the Technical Director of Aprovecho Research Center (ARC), died this week at the age of 81. In the 1980’s and 90’s, Dr. Sam Baldwin defined how to improve heat transfer efficiency in biomass cook stoves (pot skirts, etc.), Dr. Tom Reed created the TLUD, and Dr. Winiarski invented the Rocket stove. The saying “We stand on the shoulders of giants” certainly applies to the stove community.

Larry led teams from ARC around the world starting in Central America, where the plancha stove was evolved, after he found that a floor tile called a baldosa made a long lasting and relatively low mass combustion chamber that was surrounded by wood ash, a great natural source of refractory insulation. Larry discovered that Rocket type stoves, like plancha stoves, can be described by ten design principles and that these simple engineering principles could be taught to indigenous people, mostly women who were the experts in using the stoves. My memories of Dr. Winiarski, who was born in Nicaragua, are often about him having a wonderful time speaking Spanish as stoves were constructed and flavorful food prepared.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Larry had a heart of gold. He picked up sick kids and walked from the city dump in Managua to a distant hospital. He slept on cement floors for months at a time in Haiti. Larry lived as others lived in Africa for years and because of his character was loved and respected in villages worldwide. His Rocket stove found a place in people’s homes in the same way that Larry was cared for, accepted, and loved by strangers. Larry is missed by thousands of friends and he was blessed with a life well lived.

Dean 

On Sun, Aug 8, 2021 at 6:16 PM Patrick Flynn <patrickflynn27 at gmail.com <mailto:patrickflynn27 at gmail.com> > wrote:

Hey Mike,

Thanks for the message letting us know. Such sad news, but I feel blessed to have known and worked with Larry. He had a heart of gold and connected with everyone wherever he went. He will be missed but what a legacy!

I hope all the rest of you are doing well!

Much love,

Patrick

On Thursday, August 5, 2021, Sandra Moen <moen.sandra at gmail.com <mailto:moen.sandra at gmail.com> > wrote:

Thanks for letting us know, Mike. Is there going to be a service of some kind?

~•~

I’ll never forget flying to Morelia with a big group of Aprovechians.

I was standing next to Nordica in the airport security line. She had an IAP in her carry on and she was explaining why it had seemed like a good idea at the time to label it “The Bomb”.  

We needn’t have worried. Larry was going through security in front of us. He had a bunch of tools with him, amongst them an axe, a saw, I forget what all.  Only Larry could have gotten them into the cabin without being arrested. The stewardess calmly stowed them all in the forward luggage compartment. 

We all watched in awe. Knowing Larry was a privilege. 

Safe travels, my friend. Wherever you are, I bet you’re teaching stove technology to someone 💕🙏💕

On Thu, Aug 5, 2021 at 8:37 PM Dean Still <deankstill at gmail.com <mailto:deankstill at gmail.com> > wrote:

Gave me my life's work and a good problem to try to solve.

A heart of gold.

Lost a great friend.

On Thu, Aug 5, 2021 at 8:30 PM Mike Hatfield <apromike at gmail.com <mailto:apromike at gmail.com> > wrote:

Sorry I should have lead with the sad news that Larry passed away today.  There have been amazing tributes to him on the stove world chats as it should be!

On Thu, Aug 5, 2021 at 7:10 PM Mike Hatfield <apromike at gmail.com <mailto:apromike at gmail.com> > wrote:

Here’s to Uncle Larry.  A life well lived.  None of us would have been on this wonderfully crazy stove ride without him.

Cheers,

Mike 

-- 

Statistically, the probability of any one of us being here is so small that you'd think the mere fact of existing would keep us all in a contented dazzlement of surprise     -Lewis Thomas

The known is finite, the unknown infinite, intellectually we stand on an islet in the mist of an illimitable ocean of inexplicability.  Our business in every generation is to reclaim a little more land   - T. H. Huxley 

-- 

Statistically, the probability of any one of us being here is so small that you'd think the mere fact of existing would keep us all in a contented dazzlement of surprise     -Lewis Thomas

The known is finite, the unknown infinite, intellectually we stand on an islet in the mist of an illimitable ocean of inexplicability.  Our business in every generation is to reclaim a little more land   - T. H. Huxley 

-- 

Dean Still

Executive Director

Aprovecho Research Center

PO Box 1175

76132 Blue Mountain School Road <https://www.google.com/maps/search/76132+Blue+Mountain+School+Road+Cottage+Grove,+OR+97424?entry=gmail&source=g> 

Cottage Grove, OR 97424 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/76132+Blue+Mountain+School+Road+Cottage+Grove,+OR+97424?entry=gmail&source=g> 

(541) 767-0287

www.aprovecho.org <http://www.aprovecho.org> 

-- 

Sandra

This email is a natural, handmade product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty, and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

-- 

Dean Still

Executive Director

Aprovecho Research Center

PO Box 1175

76132 Blue Mountain School Road

Cottage Grove, OR 97424

(541) 767-0287

www.aprovecho.org <http://www.aprovecho.org> 

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