The Knowlton School is saddened to announce the passing of former City and Regional Planning Chair and School Director, Professor Emeritus Laurence C. Gerckens. Larry, age 86, passed away on January 9, 2021, in Hilliard, Ohio.

Larry Gerckens graduated from East Rutherford High School in New Jersey and earned a three-year Certificate in Art from the Cooper Union in New York City. He completed the next two years of the five-year Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the University of Cincinnati and earned a Master of Regional Planning degree at Cornell University. Larry taught architecture at Montana State University and Arizona State University prior to moving to Columbus in 1963 to become a professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at The Ohio State University.

While at Ohio State, Larry served as the Chair of City and Regional Planning from 1970–1978, as the Director of the School of Architecture. Larry felt that his greatest contribution while director was the introduction of computer graphics in architecture and the development of the first computer-aided instruction course in 1973: CAI-1 Urban Development and Planning History. After taking early retirement in 1986, Larry formed the On-Call Faculty Program, a part-time faculty, consultant, and guest speaker bureau.

Larry was well-known for his slide-illustrated, computer-assisted class in city planning history, which he taught for several decades at many universities across the United States. Larry was a Fellow of the American Institute of City Planners, founder of the Society for City and Regional Planning History, Professor Emeritus of The Ohio State University, and member of the American Planning Association.

Larry is survived by his children, Krista (John) Hickman, Ann Gerckens, Jeff (Jennifer) Gerckens, Kim Gerckens, TJ (Stephanie) Gerckens, and Jon (Jennifer) Gerckens; grandchildren, Chris and Catherine Hickman, Max and Ross Gerckens, Allie and Katie Gerckens, and Caden Gerckens; special niece, Bev Cory; sister-in-law, Lorraine Caravaglia; and many nieces, nephews, and life-long friends. In addition to his parents, Larry was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Louise, sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and Frank Scherer, sister-in-law Joan Waterman, and grandson Ryan.