A native of Freedom, PA, Larry Werner was a well-regarded senior public relations executive with a 50-year career in rendering advice to community and business leaders.
He served his country in the Korean War as a Corporal in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Duquesne University with a B.A. in Communications and Minor in Science, and from Carnegie Mellon with a M.A. in English. He began his career as a reporter with United Press International, followed by public relations and senior management roles with U.S. Steel Corporation and Equibank before serving as Executive Vice President of Ketchum Public Relations in Pittsburgh from 1984 until 2001. Up until this year, Larry continued to consult with clients.
Larry was an active volunteer for numerous organizations, an advocate of the arts and served on the Boards of the Ronald McDonald House, where he was past president, Boy Scouts of America Pittsburgh Chapter, Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Shakespeare Festival, Seton Hill University and on the Advisory Board of the Pitt Jazz Seminar. He was also involved in fundraising for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania. An avid golfer, Larry was on the Board and an active member of the Oakmont Country Club as well as a member of the Duquesne Club.
He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, and taught them how to get the most out of life and stressed the importance of relationships through his love and generosity.
On June 2, 2014, after a courageous three-year battle with pancreatic cancer, Larry passed away. This fund will be used in his memory to help disadvantaged cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.