William Larsen

July 6, 1932 - February 18, 2023

William Laverty “Bill” Larsen, 90, of San Bruno, passed away peacefully at home on February 18, 2023.

The father of 5, grandfather of 11, greatgrandfather of 3, and coach of dozens, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 6, 1932. His earliest years were spent in Utah and Covelo, California, before his family settled in San Francisco in the Richmond District. Bill went to St. Agnes Catholic School in the Haight-Ashbury, and was a standout athlete at St. Ignatius College Prep, earning him a tryout for the Pacific Coast League’s San Francisco Seals, before enlisting in the Army.

Bill was sent to Japan with the 24th Infantry Division right out of boot camp, and was fighting in Korea within weeks. He was wounded early on, but remained with his unit. At 19, Bill was placed in command of a platoon of African American soldiers, where he experienced racism firsthand, fighting for his men against mistreatment they faced from the Army. This ignited a lifelong commitment to racial justice.

Bill left the Army as a First Sergeant in 1953, and got a job on the loading dock at Levi Strauss, where he met Rosemarie Damonte at a company bowling party. They married six months later and moved into a home on Moscow Street in the Excelsior District, three doors from where Rose was born.

In 1961, with three boys in tow, Bill and Rose bought a house on Charleston Avenue in San Bruno. They would soon be joined by two daughters, and somehow the family of seven found a way to fit. Rose passed away at home in 2011, where Bill remained until leaving us to join her in Heaven.

Bill was a fixture in San Bruno youth sports, where he was a well-respected basketball coach for St Roberts School in the Peninsula Parochial Schools League. Bill’s teams won championships and had many winning seasons, but his players remember him most for making basketball fun. He coached well into his 70s, assisting at the Stanford Basketball Camps run by son, Keith, another longtime Peninsula basketball coach.

Bill’s family benefited from his upbeat and encouraging spirit. He loved telling stories, whether you’d heard them before or not. He’ll be fondly remembered by his children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren: Keith & Shaun Larsen of Menlo Park, and Camilyn and Victoria; Rick and Sue Larsen of Tasmania, Australia, and John (Meghan) and Valerie; Mike and Tina Larsen of Ohio, and Maryann & Melissa Farris (with husband Sean and Bill’s great-grandkids Amelia, Jacob, and Bennett); Michele and Marc Francesconi of Folsom. and Monica and Matthew; and Sandra and Vince D’Amato of San Bruno, and JoAnna (Paea), Mario, and Gloria.

Bill was the loving big brother of Judith Stranzl, of Corte Madera, and the late Michael Larsen of Palm Springs. He was the fun and funny uncle to nine nieces and nephews, four of whom left us too soon.

Those lucky enough to know Bill loved him for his generous spirit and upbeat attitude. He approached every day with a sense of wonder, and was sincerely overjoyed by everything his kids and grandkids accomplished. When asked by one of his grandkids what surprised Bill about his life, he answered, “Gosh, everything. All of you. I never thought I’d have any of this.”

A vigil will be held at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at Chapel of the Highlands in Millbrae, with viewing starting at 4:00. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 10:00 AM at St. Robert’s Catholic Church, 1380 Crystal Springs Road in San Bruno. Committal will follow the services at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.