Laurence Gordon Crocker, MD

Laurence G. Crocker, M.D. passed away in his sleep at home in Madison, Wisconsin on April 26, 2012 at the age of 82. Larry was born on April 1, 1930 to Prof. Lionel Crocker, Ph.D. and Dr. Geraldine Crocker, M.D. He grew up in Granville Ohio, where he was raised in the liberal Protestant tradition of the American Baptists. Larry graduated from Denison University, where he majored in English, was President of the Class of 1951 and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Unable to obtain a scholarship to study Shakespeare in Germany, Larry decided to become a doctor like his mother, earning his M.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. His senior year he married Patricia Clark (from Akron, Ohio) whom he had met when they were summer staff at YMCA College Camp at Lake Geneva, WI. Larry enlisted in the U.S. Navy, was commissioned as a Lieutenant and served as a USMC battalion surgeon at Camp Pendleton, CA. Larry and Pat's two oldest sons were born at Camp Pendleton and the family lived in a bungalow on the Pacific, where Larry painted watercolor landscapes and practiced the banjo and mandolin. The family moved to Madison for Larry to complete his medical training at the University of ...[more]

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consin Medical School where he served as chief resident. His third son was born in Madison, prompting a move to a rambling historic home on the Vilas Circle. Larry started practice with Dr. A.J. Richtsmeier, Sr., later teaming with Drs. Crowley and Dieter to create Madison Internal Medical Associates where they were joined by a group of exceptional colleagues. Larry was a skilled and compassionate physician, dedicated to the needs of his patients. Late in his career Larry returned to the UW as a clinical professor of medicine to share with young doctors his knack for compassionate interaction with patients. One of Larry's nicknames was "the rose doctor" because he cultivated vast rose gardens and picked a fresh rose each morning for his boutonniere. Larry retired from roses and medicine in 2005 and took up painting again, switching to oils and taking classes at MATC. Larry and Pat were avid collectors of fine art and antiques. Larry also was a life-long musician: a decent piano player, he focused on the four string banjo, studying with Al Ramsey and playing Dixieland jazz whenever he got the chance, ultimately becoming a fixture with the Sizzlers at the Avenue Bar. Larry became a Francophile in the '80s when his youngest son moved to Paris to become a jazz musician; Larry re-learned French and visited Paris regularly with Pat. Larry was a devoted husband and father: he is survived by his loving wife Pat, three grateful sons (a video producer in Dallas, a federal magistrate judge in Madison and a trumpet player in Paris) and two charming granddaughters in college. We will celebrate Larry's life with an open house on Saturday afternoon, June 9, 2012, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Avenue Bar, 1128 East Washington Avenue, Madison. The Avenue Sizzlers will provide some Dixieland tunes and there will be an open microphone for encomiums from the crowd. Everyone is welcome to drop by, raise a glass and share memories of Larry Crocker.