A Song For Kathy Who Died On Earth Day

Environmentalist – 1919-2011

In memory of the Mary and Kathy Larson, and the environmental cause they fought to make the world a safer place for you and me.

Mary Magdalene Larson, also know as Mary June Larson, was an ordinary citizen concerned about the harmful effect of chemicals, especially DDT, on humans. She received the first prestigious Carleton Lee Award in 1987 from the American Academy of Environmental Medicine.

Mary and George Larson adopted a daughter soon after her birth, and when Kathy was 10 years old she attended a girl’s summer camp. She came home the first day with mosquito bites and a note pinned to her stating not to worry, the mosquito problem would be handled. DDT was sprayed while the girls played on the field the next day. This pesticide that can be fatal and has been proven to cause cancer. All people react differently to varying amounts of chemicals. For Kathy, the reaction was severe, and she became acutely sensitive to all chemicals. Mary (June) Larson spent the rest of her life, caring for Kathy, and fighting for better regulations on an unbridled chemical industry. Her purpose was to safeguard human health.

As an early environmentalist, Mary worked for Dr Theron Randolf. She was tenacious at collecting information, from all over the United States where chemicals caused harm to people. She fought for regulations to protect the earth, animals and people, and even testified in congressional committees of her findings.

Kathy died on Earth Day!

Please enjoy the video (below) of “A Song For Kathy and Earth Day” written and produced by her nephew, Ted Larson, immediately after hearing the news that Kathy died on Earth Day. This song was dedicated for Mary June in 1990 and performed at Kathy’s funeral mass on Wednesday, June 8 at 11:15 am at Transfiguration Parish Church, Wauconda, Illinois.

The song was recorded by Ted’s good friends: JoAnne Avery Neish (lead vocals and piano), Dave Nielsen (bass and vocals), Phil Claiborne (guitar) and Traci Menicucci (background vocals). Words and music by G. Ted Larson. c1990. Engineered in 1990 by Bill Hare.

Kathy Is Part Of Earth Day
written by Ted Larson

Verse 1:
Kathy lived, clinging on to life, with a love for us to see
A determined young girl, who helped, change the world
Make it safer for you and me.
Because of her and her parents love
Many lives have been saved
And although she’s gone, her story lives on
Advances will be made.

Now Kathy is part of Earth Day!
A sign from God that we
Must nurture and build a heathy life
To save humanity.

Verse 2:
Discover again this mystery: the last shall be the first
The weak will be strong and our faith will move on
Based on what we do to the least of them.
So change we must, to love this land, and
Protect our sacred earth
We’ll follow the way, to Kathy’s brighter day
And heaven will embrace the world.

Now Kathy is part of Earth Day!
A sign from God that we
Must nurture and build a heathy life
To save humanity.

Women’s Day Honorary ‘Outstanding Women’ Award 1987

Mary Larson’s Awards and Notables:

American Academy of Environmental Medicine – Carleton Lee Award, 1987 (The Carleton lee Award is given in recognition of exemplary efforts in furthering the principles of Environmental Medicine.)
Woman’s Day Magazine – Outstanding Women Award, 1987.
Cover picture and story on a AT&T Monthly employee magazine for starting one of the first organic community gardens.
Testified in US Congress sub-committee hearings and other court cases around the country about pesticide effect on farm-workers
Pushed to enact the first city ordinance requiring chemical companies to post warning signs. That law went to court battle and the ruling was that the local law was preempted by Illinois state law, but all this started a revolution in re-thinking the impact of chemicals and for companies to use less-dangerous ones around homes and communities. (see Right To Know article below for more info)