Editor,

It’s always a jolt to open the newspaper and see that an old acquaintance has passed on.

This morning brought just such a jolt when I read about Larry Cort.

Larry Cort was one of the best of Whidbey Island in so many ways. Larry and I met in Langley when I was making my way through the regulations in order to start a small business.

When he learned I had been involved in planning in Portland, Ore., we talked about planning and when he learned I had a particular interest in landscape architecture and the effect of landscape on people’s lives, we went that direction, swapped names and books.

And when he learned I had lived recently in Maine, he asked for recommendations for a trip he and Lisbeth were making to New England. I gave him my big DeLorme map of Maine with wishes for a good trip. He repaid me with word about favorite places they’d eaten including my favorite, The Great Lost Bear in “the other” Portland.

Larry had a warm smile for everyone, and kindness was simply part of his DNA. If there was a problem, his choice was to talk it over and figure out how things could work for everyone.

Whidbey Island is the better for that.

There are too few Larry Cort’s in the world. I’m grateful that I knew this one.

To Lisbeth, I send my condolences and wishes that she take comfort knowing how much she and Larry were loved by the community and how much she was loved by Larry.

Molly Larson Cook

San Diego, Calif.