Pace is saddened to hear about the passing of Al Larson, a former Pace Board Director who enjoyed a long and successful career in public service. Larson represented the people of northwest suburban Cook County for 20 years as a member of the Pace Board of Directors. He retired from the Board in 2020.
Larson passed away Tuesday, March 19, at the age of 85.
He began his career in local politics in 1975 as a village trustee in the Village of Schaumburg. Larson served as a trustee for 12 years before being elected mayor of Schaumburg in 1987 — a position he held for 32 consecutive years. He remains Schaumburg's longest serving mayor.
Throughout his career, Larson held many public service roles, including President of the Northwest Municipal Conference, Vice President of the Illinois Municipal League, Chair for the Joint Action Water Agency, and Co-Chair of the STAR Line Steering Committee
He also served as a member of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Board of Directors, DuPage Mayor’s and Manager’s Board, Illinois Public Airports Association Board of Directors, Council of Mayors Executive Board, Transportation Infrastructure and Services Steering Committee for the National League of Cities, O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission, and the Governor's Climate Change Advisory Group.
Larson valued the arts and worked to ensure young people’s access to the arts in Schaumburg and the surrounding areas. The Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in the village still bears his name.
“Pace remains grateful for Al Larson’s many years of dedicated service to the Pace Board of Directors and his invaluable contributions to the Pace community,” said Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski. “His career speaks for itself. Larson’s legacy lives on anywhere you go in Schaumburg.”
“Al Larson was a tremendous supporter of Pace who championed public transportation throughout his career. He was an instrumental influence on many Pace initiatives, including the creation of the free Schaumburg trolley service near Woodfield Mall,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger. “Larson showed us the value of building relationships and reaching across the aisle to achieve common goals. We have lost a true local leader.”