photo & story courtesy of The Morning Sun
Mt. Pleasant residents are remembering former city manager Larry Collins for his conscience, generosity, volunteer work and love of the community he called home for the past 56 years.
Collins – who led the city beginning in the 1960s and continued as a civic leader and philanthropist for decades after his retirement – died after being hit by a car on Wednesday.
He was 92.
Quana Hoffman, who worked with Collins as a volunteer at both the city’s homeless shelter and soup kitchen, said he was a mentor and recalled on Facebook his contributions into his 80s and 90s.
“He was a true servant to our community,” she said. “We could always count on him to lend a helping hand where needed and to ask the difficult questions to ensure we didn’t miss a thing. He also volunteered by serving lunch at the Soup Kitchen and volunteered as a host to our local homeless shelter regularly. He loved our community and showed it in every way he could.”
Sue Woods of Vestaburg agreed.
“Larry was one of the most socially conscious and loving people I have ever known,” she said. “He will be greatly missed.”
Collins, 92, was on his daily morning walk early Wednesday when he was hit by a car backing out of a driveway, police said.
Collins was long active in the Mt. Pleasant Community Foundation, which also paid him tribute after a special annual event which Larry had made plans to attend.
“Shortly after the event was over, we learned the reason one of our family members could not be with us,” the Foundation said on its Facebook page. “Larry Collins, you will be missed. Your legacy will live on in our hearts and in our community forever.”
Judy Pamp agreed, summarizing the service and leadership Collins provided in the community.
“Larry let his heart lead his decisions and actions,” she said. “He truly cared for others and always saw the best in people. He lived his life giving to others and treating others with kindness, respect and love.”
Condolences also came from Okaya City, Japan, which has a sister-city relationship with Mt. Pleasant in which Collins had also participated.
“We, citizens of Okaya City in Japan, are sorry to hear the sad news of Larry,” said Katsura Suzuki. “Larry had a lot of friends in Okaya, and played an important role of our sister city exchanging for a long, long time. May his soul rest in peace.”
Collins was taken to McLaren – Central Michigan and then airlifted to another hospital, where he died late Wednesday.
A 16-year-old driver was backing out of a driveway near the corner of Broomfield and Churchill at around 9:50 a.m. Wednesday when Collins was hit, said Mt. Pleasant Police Public Information Office Jeff Browne.
Collins served as Mt. Pleasant’s city manager from 1961 until 1968; an article in the Chicago Tribune on July 6, 1961 notes Collins resigned from the same position in Zion, Ill. to accept the Mt. Pleasant offer.
Police did not know the status of Collin’s injuries Wednesday afternoon.
Browne described the accident as a “terrible situation” and said the police report, when it is finished later this week or next, will be presented to Isabella County Prosecutor Risa Scully for her review and any decision on charges.
