Dr. Robert Larsen was one of the most influential people in my life. Like so many people who have posted a memory of Robert, he ensured I was financially able to attend Simpson College and instilled a lifelong love of singing and opera. Robert once told me no matter what I did in my life I would always be a singer. I was a classmate of Doug Duncan, Reid Stringer, Cherie Carl and April Kaskey at Simpson. I also had the great privilege to sing with Carol Stuart in La Rondine and The Prima Donna in the 1973 inaugural season of the Des Moines Metro Opera. In the the fall of 1972, my husband Terry was in law school at the University of Iowa and I was teaching music in Lone Tree, IA. Robert, April and Doug picked me up in Iowa City and we drove to Chicago to see La Boheme at the Lyric Opera. Doug and Robert were so excited about the first season of DMMO. Their vision, hard work and immense talent contributed to the excellence DMMO has achieved today. Robert touched so many lives and everyone lucky enough to have known and worked with him has been blessed. Rest In Peace and love.