Lasting Memories

John Westcott Larson
1940-May 2, 2010
Atherton, California

John Westcott Larson of Atherton, a former chief operating officer of the San Francisco Chronicle, Bay Area business consultant, and venture capital executive, died May 2, 2010. He was 70.

Mr. Larson served on the board of trustees of the California Academy of Sciences, where he was vice chairman and was involved in the museum's long-range planning and development.

Mr. Larson was born in Minneapolis, Minn., where he attended Minnetonka High School and served as class president. He graduated cum laude from Carleton College, where he was a George Baker Scholar and received the Dana Award for excellence in athletics and scholarship. He earned an MBA degree with honors from Columbia University, where he was an International Fellow and International Nickel Fellow.

He joined McKinsey & Co. in 1965 and was elected senior director in 1976. He spent 10 years as manager of the San Francisco office. He was a general partner of J.H. Whitney & Co., a venture capital and buyout firm, from 1984 to 1990. He also served as chief operating officer of Chronicle Publishing Co. in San Francisco, leaving in 1992 to pursue private investment activities.

Mr. Larson was a director for Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream and served on the advisory board of Churchill Capital, a Minneapolis-based private equity firm. He also served on the boards of several private companies. He was also a trustee of Carleton College over the past 23 years.

Mr. Larson was a world traveler, a skier, a sailor and longtime member of the Pacific Union Club and the Palo Alto Club.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, of Atherton; son Rod Larson of Portland; daughter Suki Larson of London; brothers Robert Larson and David Larson; and two grandchildren.