Judith K Larsen
Nov. 23, 1942-Dec. 3, 2022
Palo Alto, California
On December 3, Judy Larsen passed away peacefully in Belmont at the age of 80.
Born in Moorhead, Minnesota, Judy was the firstborn child of Harry and Helene Kaeding, who taught at the local high school. Judy graduated from that high school with highest honors, including Class Salutatorian, and went on to attend Gustavus Adolphus College. She won a scholarship to Syracuse University in New York, where she earned a Master’s degree in Psychology.
In 1965, Judy drove her red sports car to California, taking a job at Philco-Ford, in Palo Alto, as a Human Factors Engineer. Shortly thereafter she met her husband, Nick Larsen, whom she married in 1967.
While working as a senior scientist at the American Institutes for Research, Judy earned a PhD in Social Sciences, with a concentration in Statistics and Research Methods from UC Santa Cruz. In 1982, Judy founded her own research company, Cognos, which she headed until 1986.
In 1984, Judy co-authored with Stanford professor Everett Rogers the well-received book, Silicon Valley Fever, which discussed the early history and culture of Silicon Valley and the conditions that allowed the Bay Area to emerge as a center for technology and entrepreneurial development.
Judy’s long career as a technology executive included roles as VP of Research at both Dataquest, where she led 100 staff researchers in the middle east, and AC Nielsen, headquartered in the Chicago area. For more than two years, she commuted from her Palo Alto home to Nielsen in Chicago every week—never missing a weekend at home with her husband, beloved cats and lovely garden. Finally, from 1991 to 2001, Judy was president of the Vesper Society of the Bay Area.
A lifelong Lutheran of Swedish descent, Judy was deeply committed to her Christian faith and was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Palo Alto. Her excellent leadership skills caused her to be appointed to the Board of Directors of Lutheran Brotherhood (Thrivent), the Theological Education Coordinating Committee for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Board for the Center of Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, the Board of Trustees of California Lutheran University, and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.
Judy enjoyed hiking, travel, books, opera and many other cultural pursuits, but most of all she delighted in hosting the people she cared about in her charming 1930’s brick home with its “Teahouse of the June Moon.” She was adored and admired by her many friends, family, neighbors—and her “kitties”—as a beacon of kindness, generosity and fun who brought people together and inspired them to be their best.
Judy is survived by her husband, Nick Larsen, her brothers Paul Kaeding (Jeanne) and John Kaeding (Toni) and two nephews, Gus and Sten Kaeding. Memorial services will be held January 14 at First Lutheran Church in Palo Alto.
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