Leah Larson, born April 6, 1930 in Joplin, Missouri to Carl and Frieda Sadow, died February 21, 2023 at the age of 92.

Leah was raised in Chicago with older sisters Bella and Pearl and younger brother and sister, Jerry, and Reva. They lived in Hyde Park where Leah’s favorite pastime was spending Sunday afternoons with her cousin Renah going to the movies at one of four neighborhood theaters; her favorite was the posh Picadilly. In 1955 Leah married Eugene (Gene) and raised three children first in Chicago then in Racine, Wisconsin. They eventually moved to St. Louis to be near their children.

Leah’s stage experiences in the 60s with the Lombard Park Players helped prepare her for her role as an activist in the 70s and 80s. Leah attended anti-war rallies, gave speeches, and often drove to Milwaukee to work as a volunteer for the National Mobilization Committee to End War in Vietnam (MOBE). Leah faced life with a fearless and adventurous spirit. She liked good wine, working crossword puzzles in pen, jazz tunes, and dancing to Songs in the Key of Life. She encouraged and nurtured Gene’s artistic pursuits, sometimes to the exclusion of her own artistic expression as a writer, actor, and humorist in her own right.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Barry (Kelly), Steve, and Judy (Cindy); sister: Reva; grandchildren: Nathan (Crystal), Hannah (Drew), Sarah (David), and Addie (Gordon) and eight great-grandchildren.  Dear aunt, cousin and friend.

Graveside service Sunday, March 12, 11:30 a.m. at United Hebrew Cemetery, 7855 Canton Avenue. If desired, donations can be sent to The St. Louis Arc, 1177 Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132.

A RINDSKOPF-ROTH SERVICE