Carl Edward (Ed) Larcom

Edward Larcom, 57, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2014, in his home surrounded by family. Ed was born on Oct. 6, 1957, in Gary, IN, the son of Howard and Marion Larcom. He grew up in Decatur, IL and Morrisville, PA with his sister, Joyce Wright. He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Industrial Engineering in 1980 and an MBA from Rockhurst College in 1989. It was at Iowa State where Ed met the love of his life, Susan.
Ed spent his career in manufacturing working in the Communication, Automotive, Medical Device, and Aeronautics industries. The majority of his career was spent at Nellcor Puritan Bennett. His many positions included Production Supervisor, Senior Buyer, Manufacturing Coordinator, Manager of Sustaining Engineering, and Director of Operations. B/E Aerospace purchased Nellcor Puritan Bennett, and Ed worked at B/E Aerospace as Materials Manager, Operations Manager until he assumed an assignment in Seattle to open a B/E plant at the Boeing facility working on the “787 or Dreamliner”. Upon his return home 2 years later, he became a Program Manager until his voluntary retirement in 2012 to run his own Security business, Signal 88 of Johnson County. The business was sold in 2013 and Ed continued to support BE Program Management as a consultant until August of 2014.

Ed was first and foremost a family man, devoted to his wife and three girls, Laura, Kate and Lisa. He coached all three girls in basketball as well as softball. He took great joy in attending their many sporting events and activities. He also enjoyed playing basketball, soccer, tennis as well as golf. Ed and Susan played many years in a couple’s golf league. Ed and Susan enjoyed travel and took many trips abroad. Family vacations were a highlight of each year. He had a great sense of humor and valued friendship very much.

He was very involved in Holy Spirit School activities including Parents Association Board Member and President. In the Parish, he was a Eucharistic Minister, Usher and member of the Knights of Columbus. Ed and Susan have been involved in a Small Faith Community at Holy Spirit for over 20 years.
Ed was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1997. He underwent a left kidney nephrectomy and then entered into an immunotherapy clinical trial for 2 years at the Vince Lombardi Cancer in Milwaukee. Ed was symptom free until 2009 when he was found to have metastatic renal cell cancer to the brain, remaining kidney, lungs, and lymph nodes. In the last 5 ½ years, Ed underwent three craniotomy’s as well as targeted, whole brain and cyber knife radiation to the brain. Ed was on continuous oral chemotherapy from 2009 until November of this year when the disease spread and chemotherapy was no longer effective.
We often referred to Ed as our Miracle man. He fought cancer for 17+ years with courage, dignity and a display of great faith. He never let treatment slow him down and continued in all of his activities without missing a beat. He attended Camp Bluebird, a Cancer Camp, sponsored by Shawnee Mission Health and Ed was an inspiration to many. In these 17 years, Ed was able to see his daughters grow up to be strong young women, walked two daughters down the aisle in marriage and experience the joy of finally having a boy in the family, his grandson, Peter.
Ed is survived by his devoted wife of 33 years, Susan, who has faithfully supported him on this journey, his three daughters, Laura (William) Vodvarka, Kate (Alex) Covalt, and Lisa Larcom, his grandson, Peter Vodvarka, and his father, Howard Larcom. He was preceded in death by his mother, Marion Larcom and sister, Joyce Wright. He adored his family and friends and was humbled by their love for him. Even up to the end, Ed was thankful that he had had such a good run surviving the cancer that eventually took his life. He lived so long with the disease thanks to fabulous medical care, the support and prayers of many friends, and the love of his family. He left this world having touched so many people and likewise was touched by them and their generosity.
Ed’s family would like to express their deepest gratitude to all his caregivers at Shawnee Mission Health, especially Drs. William Hendricks, Steven Hess, Parasanth Reddy. Sister Margarita and the Sister Servants of Mary and Kansas City Hospice. Assistance by Funeral Advocates LLC.

Services will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 11300 West 103rd Street, Overland Park, KS 66214. Rosary and Visitation will be held from 4-6pm on Friday, December 26, 2014. A funeral Mass of Resurrection will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 10am.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family requests donations are made to the Sister Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, 800 N. 18th St. Kansas City, KS, 66102.