Lew Larason, 91, died on August 8 from an aorta dissection. He was pain free and with his family.
Lew is survived by his wife Patti Guthrie, his daughter Cindy White, his two granddaughters Tara (Mark Norris) and Sabrina (Einar Mathisen), his great grandson Malachi Yeager, his great granddaughter Eveline Mathisen, his niece (second daughter) Laura Edinger, nieces Kim, Penny, and Theresa, nephews John and Andrew, and his sister-in-law Jean
Born in Lambertville, NJ, Lew grew up on a small farm in New Hope, PA, graduating from New Hope – Solebury High School. Before his graduation, he had begun an apprenticeship with the late, world-renowned woodworker/cabinetmaker George Nakashima that lasted from 1950 to 1953. Lew slowly evolved from creating new furniture, while working for various local cabinetmakers, to repairing old pieces. From 1966 to 1975, he was a full-time antiques dealer and furniture restorer in Lambertville.
In 1975, he moved to Chalfont, PA to join Patti in their antiques business Guthrie & Larason, while continuing his antique furniture restoration.
In 1977, he achieved a long-held dream of becoming a writer, doing his first article on antique baskets for a regional antiques publication. He had been writing ever since, at the time of his death a food column for “The Bucks County Herald” and his monthly “LIVING WITH COUNTRY ANTIQUES” column and “FAKES I’VE KNOWN” article for THE NEW YORK-PENNSYLVANIA COLLECTOR. In fact, his last column for the Collector was written three days before he died.
In 1978, he realized another long-held dream with the self-publication of THE BASKET COLLECTORS BOOK, now in its third printing, for which he did all of the photography. That book was followed in 1992 by his second self-published book BUYING ANIQUE FURNITURE: An Advisory, that he wrote and illustrated.
For decades, he and Patti have participated in local antiques shows, as recently as this past June, and rent space at the New Hope Antiques and Design Center, a co-op located between Lahaska and New Hope.
In his “spare” time, he enjoyed gardening, cooking, wines, and travel, especially to nearly any beach during the off season. In short, Lew lived a rich, long, and very full life.
There will be a memorial celebration of Lew’s life at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Lew’s name to the American Heart Association.
