One of the most prominent figures in the history of our organization is Larry Ambs, which is why we’re proud to feature him in this month’s newsletter. Few have put more time and productive energy into creating programs and ensuring the success of Five College Learning In Retirement than Larry.
Originally from the Twin Cities, Larry got his undergraduate engineering degree from the University of Minnesota when it was a 5-year program which included many liberal arts courses. Larry appreciated receiving this broader educational experience rather than just taking scientific engineering courses and this experience initiated a desire to further explore these topics later in life. After receiving his PhD there in Mechanical Engineering, he moved to South Amherst with his wife and three children when he was hired as a professor at the University of Massachusetts School of Engineering in 1968. He spent his entire career at UMass, retiring in 2004.
During his tenure there, Larry created the University of Massachusetts Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, (CEERE) which was supported by the US Department of Energy to advise and assist industrial companies, power plants, and utilities. CEERE provided many students with financial support during their graduate studies while they were involved in assisting these companies toward reducing their energy use.
After retirement, Larry became a member of FCLIR in 2007 and began taking and giving seminars. He remembers giving his first Encore presentation in the Fall of 2008. Later he expanded the Encore Program and FCLIR began offering Encore Presentations at the Applewood Senior Living Center after 2012.
Larry served as FCLIR President in 2010. During that period, he collaborated with Sarah Wright to produce the initial FCLIR Operations Manual. After his Past President year in 2011, he was appointed as FCLIR Liaison to Five College Incorporated, a position he held until 2022. While he has never been a member of the Council, as a liaison to Five College Inc. he attended most Council meetings during that decade.
In 2011, Larry worked with Chuck Gillies and others to arrange a 150th Anniversary Civil War Program at UMass in conjunction with the UMass African American Studies Department. It was an all-day event with speaker presentations, panel discussions and meetings. Two well-known Civil War historians gave presentations. The symposium was very well attended and was a public relations success for FCLIR.
In 2014-15 Larry was active in assisting Chuck Gilles in the FCLIR campaign to raise money for the FCLIR Investment Fund. Today, income from this Fund allows FCLIR to minimize increases in dues and to provide seed money for Special Programs open to the public.
Larry has moderated or co-moderated over 30 seminars on topics ranging from political history to historical archeology and the sciences. He recently stated, “I wanted to learn new things that I was interested in – unrelated to my career.” In fact, isn’t that a key factor that is motivating to most of us LIR members? We want to be intellectually stimulated by new ideas and concepts, which LIR successfully fosters. We can also follow our interests by becoming a seminar moderator, doing the research for our presentations, getting active by volunteering for a LIR committee or running for Council.
Larry believes that FCLIR members were more active pre-COVID than they are today. There were many more volunteers on committees. Also, more members were moderating or co-moderating seminars. There were semesters when up to 30 seminars were offered. For those newer FCLIR members who might want to be a moderator, it’s an easier path to team up with someone to co-moderate the seminar with you. The Curriculum Committee will help you find that person.
Larry wants to remind us that because we are a self-governing program, we need members who are willing to do more than just take courses. We can join a committee (Nominating, Curriculum, Communications (formerly Outreach), Technology, and Programs Committee. It is not time consuming to serve on Council. And as previously stated, you can find enjoyment to become a co-moderator.
Some of Larry Ambs’ 30 seminars include:
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The American West, 1850-1900 with Dean Poli,
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Russian Empires Old and New with Gordon Wyse,
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Climate and Human History – Prehistory of the Americas with Dorothy Rosenthal,
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Development of Early Cities with Kathy Campbell,
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Two or three seminars on the Roosevelts (Teddy and Franklin),
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The Other Roosevelts – the achievements of the other Roosevelts,
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Europe Before the Roman Empire – how Europe was populated,
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The History of American Capitalism with Kathy Campbell,
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Neoliberalism – Government and Markets in an open society with Kathy Campbell,
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Indigenous Nations of North America from 1500 to the present,
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The Gilded Age,
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Several Immigration seminars,
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The Mongols – the people of the Steppe,
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The Caribbean before Columbus,
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North America Before Columbus,
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Central America Before Columbus,
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South America Before Columbus.
Larry is very much a family man with 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. As you can tell from this article about a revered FCLIR member, Larry Ambs has been a stalwart supporter of FCLIR.
In closing, I think of the Beatles’ song, “The End” from their final album Abbey Road and the lyrics, “And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.” Larry has learned this lesson well and has successfully applied it to Five College Learning in Retirement. We are all the beneficiaries of his full commitment and dedication.
