Marshal H. Larrabee Founder of toy train business dies ~ "The following article by John Mariani from the Syracuse Post Standard dated May 11, elaborates on the obituary notice for Marshal Larrabee." "Marshal H. Larrabee, who put Skaneateles Trains, Tracks and Blocks into the hands of thousands of children around the world, died Sunday in California. He was 93. " I hate to say this, but I think it marks the end of an era, at least from our perspective, because of the way he lived his life," said Bob Cof fin, technical Man- ager of T.C. Timber/Habermaass Corp., the company Larrabee founded as Skaneateles Handicrafters. Coffin recalled a mentor who was loyal to his workers and giving to the community. "Mr. Larrabee was a man who gave so much of himself to other causes and other people. He was a man who would not turn anyone away," Coffin said. "Anytime that anybody passed away in the community, he would donate a book to the public library in their name." Larrabee's family has asked that contributions be made to the Skaneateles Library Association. Born in Syracuse and raised in Germany and Syracuse, Larrabee was a young, newlywed banker when he was stricken with tuberculosis. He and his wife, Elizabeth, moved to Skaneateles in 1934 to aid his recovery. He took up woodworking when his doctors urged him to find an interest. It was Elizabeth who suggested he make a wooden train small enough for youngster's hands. His toys soon were the hit of the neighborhood. Encouraged, he started showing his wares to department stores. He was derailed repeatedly, until the toy buyer at Marshal Fields, the mammoth Chicago department store, said she would take all the trains he could make. By 1940, Larrabee's Skaneateles Handicrafters was in production in Mottville. As a boss, Larrabee believed in letting workers come and go as they pleased and letting them choose |
their own jobs. Those who worked Saturdays were invited to Larrabee's home for a 1 p.m. pancake feast, Coffin said. Larrabee sold the company to the German firm Habermaass GmbH in 198O but continued as secretary until 1999, when he retired to California. The Onondaga Historical Association recognized Larrabee's work in 1990 with an exhibit of his toys. The New York Art Teachers Association honored him in 1998 for his generosity in giving away millions of pounds of scrap wood to teachers and educational groups. He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Ethel Ilmanen of Solvang, Calif., and Jean McRae of Ocala, Fla.; a son Marshal H. III of Broomfield; eight grand- children, and 10 great-grandchildren. Services are at 11 a.m. July 29 in the First Presbyterian Church, Skaneateles." At the Technology Club, Marshal Larrabee was satisfied to remain the treasurer for many years and, with his background as a businessman, his perform- ance was outstanding. Marshall also edited and published a newsletter for the Technology Club. He had a friend in technical publications at the Carrier Corporation who did the printing, and at the end of every board meeting, the directors would attach mailing labels, fold the pages, and sort them according to zip codes. Marshal would then take the box and deliver hundreds of newsletters to a very small post office near Skaneateles. Our personal recollections of Marshal Larrabee are fascinating. At the end of the first World War, Marshal's father, who was a dentist, returned to Germany with his family and lived there for several years. Marshal attended grammar school in Germany and it was interesting to hear him compare his rather regimented experience in the classroom with some of the revelations in our public schools. While Skaneateles Lake has been surrounded by fine homes for many years, Marshal reminded us that when he arrived at his home there, it was in a canoe. Technology Club members and their spouses were always invited to an annual picnic at Marshal's home where they were expected to socialize, ride in his sailboat, and not discuss Technology Club business. Considering that Marshal usually played tennis before he came to the Technology Club meetings, his recovery from tuberculosis was remarkable. |
Additional Celebration of Technology Supporters In the April Issue of the Technologist, a " Thank
C&S Companies - Engineers
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Technology Club Officers 2001-2002 President William Busher 656-3679 First Vice President Michael R. Hayes P.E. 455-2000 Second Vice President Albert A. Brandenburg 434-2549 Secretary/Editor Bert K. Erickson P.E. 637-6861 Treasurer Louis J. Ragonese 652-8383 Past President Dr. Marjory Baruch 637-0033 Web Page Editor Philip R. Horan 446-2586 Membership Chair Francis Sidnam 432-2400 Teacher Awards Chair Dr. Vernon A. Tryon 343-9692 Material Tested - - Metals, Plastic, Rubber, Coatings, Platings, Paints, Weldments, Circuit Boards. Services - - Metallurgical Testing, Failure Analysis, Chemical Analysis, Mechanical Testing, Micro- electronic analysis, Weld Testing, Environmental Simulation, Polymer Testing, Full Machine Shop. |
Nominations for Directors
~ "Marjory Baruch, Chair of the nominating com-
Biography for John Duffy John Duffy is Chief Engineer at WCNY-TV/FM where
Biography for Tom Frawley Tom Frawley is a Technology Education Teacher at G.
Biography for Michael Masingale Michael Masingale is Associate Professor of Chemistry
Biography for John Mays John Mays is currently the Project Officer for Keane,
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University, his MS. in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, and his B.S. in math from the Universally of Mississippi. He is certified as a Master Project Manager and as a Project Management Professional. Biography for Ellen McKinnon Ellen McKinnon is Director, Information Technology
Biography for Sudha Raj Sudha Raj is an Assistant Professor in the Department
Biography for Ed Wilson Ed Wilson works as Industrial Hygienist and Safety
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