Lawrence V. Rickard, beloved son of Lawrence R. Rickard and Ethel Maude Vroman, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, at Albany Medical Center at the age of 99.

Larry grew up in Warnerville, Schoharie County and started school in a one-room schoolhouse with a single teacher for 5 grades. He graduated from Cobleskill High School in 1944 and later was drafted into the U.S. Army during WW2. After discharge in 1946 he attended Mohawk College of the Associated Colleges of Upper New York in Utica, later transferring to Cornell University focusing on geological studies.

While conducting fieldwork in college, he suffered a fall into a gorge, breaking his back. After a year of recovery, he returned to complete his studies at Cornell with a Bachelor of Arts in June 1951. He earned his Master's in geology at University at Rochester in 1953, and a Ph.D from Cornell in 1955. In 1956 he fulfilled his lifelong desire to work for the New York State Geological Survey in Albany.

He retired in 1986 after rising from Senior Scientist to Principal Scientist. His career centered on the Devonian period with numerous publications in scientific journals. His peers honored him with several awards, including the prestigious John M. Clarke Medal for his significant contributions to the Geological Survey. In 2023 a publication, Devonian of New York, was dedicated to him.

Larry met the love of his life, Joyce Brown of Cobleskill and they married in August 1952. They settled in Kinderhook where they raised five daughters, including the challenge of caring for a disabled child.

During his retirement he became a genealogist and self-published books about many family lineages particularly related to Schoharie County. The passing of his wife in 2004 was a profound loss, yet his daughters lovingly became his caregivers until his move to assisted living in 2025.

Personal Note from Deb: Dad was a strong scientist, but he surprised us in his later years by enjoying some of the love stories on the Hallmark channel. He had his favorites and watched them many times with us.

Larry is survived by his four children, Debbie Collett (Duane), Holly Scism (George) and three step-grandchildren, Angel, Tabitha and Sean; Tracy Dennis (Charles) and Kelly Huyck (Ron); a grandson Cody W. Huyck (Sinead Jardim) and great-grandson, Aiden. Also survived by his brother, Robert; niece, Brenda Gaston (Jame) and daughter Diana; and a nephew, Alan Rickard and sons Ryan and Kevin.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

A small interment service is planned for spring 2026 at the Manorkill Rural Cemetary in Schoharie County.