Joyce
Foster Larson, 88, passed away on December 18,
2018. Joyce earned her B.A. (1953) and M.A.
(1954) at DePauw University and her Ph.D. in
Zoology (1972) at ASU. Her career began at the
Health Museum of Cleveland in the 1950s. She
also worked with unwed mothers at the Florence
Crittenden Home and taught sex education in the
Cleveland public schools. Joyce then taught in
Atlanta and in Florida before coming to ASU in
1963.Joyce taught a few courses after
graduation, and then served as Assistant Vice
President in the Academic Vice President’s
Office from 1973-1982. She also served as a
development officer at the ASU Foundation. Joyce
retired from ASU in 1997 as Professor Emerita of
Life Sciences. She was a member of the Emeritus
College Council for a two year term. A School of
Life Sciences scholarship known as the Joyce
Foster Larson Scholarship was established in her
honor. The scholarship provides support to
School of Life Sciences Students.Marilyn
Wurzburger recalls that in Joyce’s development
role, she worked very closely with the Library
and took an important role in working with Kay
Gammage and the Library Associates (later the
Friends of ASU Libraries). When Kay
stepped down from her leadership role Joyce took
her place. Joyce was instrumental in documenting
the work of the Friends which led to the ASU
Friends Group being awarded the designation of
Outstanding Friends Group of the year – a
designation awarded by the American Librarian
Association. Joyce was survived by her husband,
Arlyn. Arlyn passed away on March 25, 2019, just
three months after Joyce. (Source: ASURA
members: Kathy Church, Elmer Gooding, Jo
Madonna, Donna Portz, Linda Van Scoy, Marilyn
Wurzburger)
