One of Bill Fromwiller’s fondest memories of his late father, Larry, is of walks through the woods on their family property in Solon. The product of a large family — Larry had seven sisters and brothers, and 30 nieces and nephews — he loved leading hikes through the woods, making a special point of showing the children the great blue heron’s nest tucked high in the trees. These walks became a tradition. Over the years, the moment Larry arrived, the children would charge toward him, yelling, “Uncle Larry! Uncle Larry!”
Years later, after Larry fell ill, Bill and his brother helped care for him. It was then they discovered something that would deepen their respect for their dad.
“By picking up his mail every day, we learned that he’d been donating to many charities – all reputable of course – and everything from environmental to humanitarian causes. We knew he was a generous person, but we didn’t realize the extent of it,” says Bill.
What wasn’t surprising then to the family was learning that Larry had pre-registered with Cleveland Clinic to donate his body after death. The decision aligned perfectly with his character, not only as a giving person but also as one who valued education. Knowing that others would learn from his gift must have resonated with him.
“He himself was a teacher,” says Bill. “He taught by example.” Because of his love for the environment, Larry became a vegetarian and later a vegan. He was an avid recycler and responsible steward of natural resources. Protecting the environment, and encouraging others to do the same, was a way of life for him.
The day Larry passed away, his body was moved from his home and transported to Cleveland Clinic. As his body was crossing the threshold of his home, one of his grandsons remarked, “Grandpa gave to others his whole life, and he keeps giving even after he’s gone.”
