Larry Ronald Pempeit
Larry was born on October 1, 1945, in Edmonton, Alberta, at the Edmonton General Hospital. Larry passed away on April 14, 2025.
Larry leaves behind his only child, son, Ronald DEAN (Tanya); three grandchildren: Courtney (Steven), Cordell (Loni) and Brennen; three great-grandchildren: Eliza, Ginny and Gabriel; nephew Darryl and his daughter Olivia; Gerry’s daughter Sammi; first wife and lifelong friend Therese; long-time caregiver and friend Genita and her family and lastly, but not least, the friends from the Red Brick school in Edson and the friends who touched his heart as he has touched theirs.
Larry joins his parents, Daisy and Bill, his stepfather, Leo, his sisters Carol, Irene, Judy, and his nephew Gerry in heaven.
Larry spent his childhood in Morinville, Legal, Larkspur, Dapp, but then he moved with his mother and sister Carol to Edson, Alberta. Larry was finally with kindred spirits. He would meet up with a group of ragtag teens, the Red Brick School Crew, and become lifelong friends. Larry was blessed to have spent his last moments on earth with Merle, his best friend since Grade nine.
In August of 1966, while newly wed to wife, Therese and with their four-month-old son Dean were at the farm, Larry went for a ride in a buddy’s convertible. 15 minutes later. Larry and his family's world would drastically change. Larry was a passenger in a single-vehicle accident. This accident left Larry a quadriplegic with a C4 fracture. Larry was a pipefitter/steamfitter before this event. Larry could have been a victim, laid around, and accepted the living standards of that time, but instead he took a very different road. Larry said, “Heck No! How can we allow this!? There was less than nothing for any person with a disability in the 1960s; this is not quality of life. There is no quit in Larry. He went to the U of A to pursue a career where he can excel from the confines of a wheelchair. Like most university students in the ‘60s, he became an activist and was hungry for change. Larry began to protest and bring awareness to the inequality of the disabled. Larry pushed for change and with the help of his friends, family and Percy Wickman. Change started. Wheelchair access in public buildings, accessible washrooms, Para-ramps on street corners. Not to mention all the newspaper articles his son would use for show and share.
Larry was a pipefitter/steamfitter when he was an able-bodied man. After going to university, his professional career started out with a newspaper he started named the Spokesman. The first of its kind, a paper that dealt with issues facing the disabled. This was networking in its infancy. Later, Larry would become a counselor helping those with new injuries adapt to life as a para/quadriplegic for the Canadian Paraplegic Association. Larry would eventually become their Director. After “retiring,” Larry got busier as a consultant, developing barrier-free floor plans with the disabled in mind.
Larry was not content to live in a group home or an extended care facility. Larry and other friends with disabilities began to work towards a model where the disabled can live as independently as possible. Starting as renters in an apartment building with a central staff to assist with daily needs. This was successful but they believed there should be more. They started the Abby Road Housing Co-op, an apartment building starting from the ground up with new construction, with accessibility being designed into the build, and also offered affordable housing. Still not content. Larry dreamed of home ownership. Securing an empty lot (Gainers Meat Processing Plant) just off Whyte Ave. Larry teamed up with Christenson Developments, creating barrier-free units at a decent price point to create a mixed community of able-bodied and disabled people. Using the model created for Abby Road, home ownership was achieved. Creek Side was developed and became a showpiece for the rest of the world.
Larry was asked by several medical practitioners if they could write a medical paper on him. To date, no one has ever survived this long with a C4 break—59 years!
Rest in peace, Dad.
The Pempeit family would like to thank the support staff at Creek Side, Abby Road, Bader Towers, Grandview, McQueen Group Home for all the care that allowed Larry to live life to the fullest.
Celebration of Life
2:00PM Thursday, June 12, 2025
Bison Lodge (formerly the Pioneer Cabin)
9430 Scona Rd NW, Edmonton, Alberta
Memorial Donations
Alberta Abilities Lodges
Spinal Cord Injury of Alberta (formerly Canadian Paraplegic Association)
Condolences to your family and friends. You were good neighbor and will be missed by so many Larry.
Susan O.
I met Larry in 1992 when I joined the Canadian Paraplegic Association as the new Executive Director. Larry was our Director of client services at the time and the face of the organization for so many years. Beyond his role in client services he was always there to lend a hand writing the quarterly Spinal Columns magazine , fundraising , lobbying government, marketing and cultivating the important partnerships with the Edmonton & Calgary spinal cord programs. During his time , CPA reached the height of its success which was largely attributable to his leadership.
All of this to say that Larry was the heart & soul of the organization and a mentor to myself , his colleagues and the many people he helped along the way. He was so well respected by his team and community for his advocacy in building the supports to independence – housing, income support, counselling, disability aids, employment….that allowed others to live the full life he enjoyed. As a boss, he spent time with his team members providing wise counsel and supervision. Larry treated everyone with respect and in his own humble and quiet way he was able to always bring down the temperature in a room.
We remained friends to the day he died. And up until his untimely demise, we met regularly for coffee or lunch . I’ll miss him dearly and on behalf of Susan and myself, we wish to extend our deepest condolences to his son Dean and family . Rest in Peace my friend.
Rest in peace my friend
Larry Pempeit. A mentor. A friend. A role model. Someone whose presence shaped countless lives, including my own.
Larry wasn’t just a leader in Alberta’s disability community—he was a pioneer. A visionary who transformed personal adversity into powerful advocacy. Through decades of tireless work with the Handicapped Housing Society, the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Abby Road, Artspace, and Creekside, Larry helped reimagine what independence, dignity, and inclusion could look like for people with disabilities.
But beyond the legacy of his accomplishments, Larry will be remembered for the way he carried himself—with humility, compassion, and quiet strength. He taught through action, led with integrity, and believed deeply in lifting others up.
His impact is permanent. His teachings, his kindness, and his example will continue to guide so many of us.
To lose someone like Larry is to feel the absence of a light that illuminated the path forward. But in his honour, we keep walking. We keep building. We keep believing that a more inclusive world is possible—because he showed us that it is.
Rest peacefully, Larry. Thank you for everything on behalf of Tannis and myself and our deepest condolences to Dean and his family. You will never be forgotten.
My deepest condolences to Dean. I worked with your Mom many years ago and met your Dad and yourself as a small boy. I have thought of all of you and wish you my very best. I share in your sadness.
My condolences to Larry’s family. I first met Larry in 1969 on Station 66 of the U of A Hospital where I too was a recent quadriplegic undergoing rehab. Our paths would cross from time to time whether at University or at City Hall where I was legal counsel. Larry always was Larry, positive and always forward looking. He will be missed.