Ambrose bids farewell to student

March 24, 2004
By Heather Venema
News Editor

The St. Ambrose community suffered a sudden lost on Friday, Feb 25 with the loss of first-year student Lawrence “Larry Jr.” Charles Weldon III.  Larry died in a single-car accident west of Iowa City.

He was 19, and from Skokie, IL.  Although his major was undecided, he was leaning towards something in the sports medicine and nutrition area.

Larry graduated from Notre Dame High School, where he played baseball and golf.  After being the first student from that high school to qualify for the state tournament, he decided to continue his golf career at St. Ambrose.

Golf coach Jeff Griebel says that Larry was a very dedicated golfer, and that it was quite an accomplishment to make the team this year since there weren’t many openings.

“He was a very dedicated athlete and student,” Griebel said.  “He was so proud the day that he got his St. Ambrose golf bag.”

Greibel attempts to place his new golfers with each other as roommates, and Larry roomed with Kyle Pospischil, a fellow golfer. 

“He was not at all what I expected after talking to him on the phone,” Pospischil said.  “I expected someone as skinny as a stick and six-foot-three – not someone shorter than I am.”

Pospischil said the two got along quickly, and really opened up to one another.  In addition to golfing and going to class, Larry would lift weights with his RA Drew Anderson, and play MLB 2005 on his Playstation 2. 

“You name it, he did it.” Pospischil said.  And he will never forget the evening that Larry bought Taco Bell for the entire fifth floor in Cosgrove.

“That’s just the type of person he was – dedicated, hard working, and energetic,” Popsischil said.

On the Sunday following Larry’s death, RA’s Drew Anderson and Craig Hurd held a floor meeting for their residents.  University chaplain Fr. Chuck Adam and director of counseling services Steve Tendall both attended the meeting to offer their resources to students.

The fifth floor residents made several mementos that were given to Larry’s parents.  A large picture frame was filled with a collage of pictures, and various quotes that Larry had said were written on the frame.  The students filled a book with written memories they had of Larry, and then purchased a large candle.  The candle had Larry’s picture printed on one side, and a prayer on the other.

“We wanted to share our memories of Larry with his family,” Hurd said.  Larry was an only child.

In addition to the contributions made by his floor, the golf team took a van up to the funeral, which was held on March 2.  They also stayed for a luncheon, and Griebel was able to speak with Larry’s parents.

“They said that attending St. Ambrose was the best decision he ever made,” Griebel said.  “The whole thing is quite a shock, and makes you realize that life can be short.  You have to enjoy it while you can.”

Four St. Ambrose students were asked to be pallbearers in the funeral, including Popsischil.  The other three were Jacob Heins, Chris Leiser, and Brent Mottet, who all live in Cosgrove Hall.  The other two bearers were from Larry’s high school.

“It was hard bearing – it’s not something you want to be going through,” said Popsischil.  “But, in some sense, it provided a sense of closure.”

A memorial has been started in Larry’s name at his high school, but Griebel says that a plan is in the making to honor him at St. Ambrose too.  Every summer the Chicago alumni chapter hosts a golf outing, with the proceeds going to benefit the golf team.

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