In Memoriam – Dr. Edward L. (Larry) Keating

In Memoriam – Dr. Edward L. (Larry) Keating, FAICP, Professor Emeritus in the City and Regional Planning program at Georgia Tech

by: Glenn Coyne, FAICP, GPA President, 1997-1999

Many members of GPA served in chapter leadership with Larry, some of us had him as a professor and mentor, others shared social time with him over the years, and some know him through his publications on planning or through his co-founding of the Community Design Center of Atlanta. Dr. Keating served GPA in many roles culminating as President in 1991 through 1993.

I studied under two of the legends of equity planning: Norm Krumholz in Cleveland and Larry Keating at Georgia Tech. My academic life and professional career were shaped by their passionate advocacy for providing a voice to those in our community that would not otherwise have a voice in their own future. Here are few anecdotes that come to mind that best describe Dr. Keating.

During my time at Tech, the Community Design Center obtained a space in a closed school building that was being repurposed for local community non-profits. Several of us readily volunteered to help move boxes, desks and other office essentials – no computers in those years – into the new space. Those of us that helped that Saturday morning felt like we were really contributing, in a very small way, to Larry’s mission of bringing the theory of planning to life through this start-up neighborhood non-profit.

I remember Larry’s lectures where, after he completed his remarks from handwritten notes, he asked us in class if there were any questions. Once, after a lengthy pause, there were no questions forthcoming, and Larry mumbled under his breath, “Another perfect lecture!”

His knowledge of the history of Atlanta – the real history of race, development and politics – was encyclopedic. This knowledge – and healthy debate – was not always shared within the four walls of the classroom, but rather in more informal sessions at Manuel’s Tavern or the Euclid Avenue Yacht Club.

Allow me one more example of the kind of mentor Larry was. When preparing my application for Fellow of AICP, I asked Larry if he would write a letter of recommendation. Not only did he agree, but the resulting letter, written fully 20 years after my graduation from Tech, was crafted with a level of detail, and heartfelt honesty, that presented a career arc that was humbling to me as the subject of the letter.

I am certain many of you have your own remembrances, your own stories of Larry’s travels to India, his love of Ireland, dinners with Larry and Eleanor Matthews, and his many years in the Little Five Points neighborhood. Again, I am only one out of the hundreds of planners who have been taught, mentored, befriended, and forever changed by the impactful life of Dr. Larry Keating. We are grateful to have benefitted from your passion and your warm laugh. We will miss you.

At the Fall Conference, the Chapter will take a moment to remember our planning colleagues and friends who we have lost in the past year. If you know of a recent passing, please reach out to Kristen Wescott to let her know so we can remember and honor that individual.