Lawrence M. Richards, landscape artist, dies at 58

LAWRENCE Mark Richards, a 35-year employee of the Free Library, a painter and landscape artist who transformed his back yard into a showplace, and a host whose parties were legendary, died Friday of a pulmonary embolism. He was 58 and lived in the Blue Bell Hill section of West Mount Airy.

"He was a renaissance man," said his wife, the former Beverly Jones. "He was talented in so many things. He could do anything."

Their home was featured in a design magazine. "Larry's back yard rivaled Longwood Gardens," a family member said.

It was also the scene of "the Christmas party, the pasta party and the most anticipated soiree of the summer, the garden party," the family said.

"Larry and Bev prepared all of the food, including smoked meats and fish cooked in the smoker Larry built. They were equally gracious hosts to friends and family at their Wildwood home, known as the 'Shell House.' "

In Wildwood, Larry enjoyed driving his small motorboat, fishing and crabbing. He kept his crab traps in Otten's Harbor, and, of course, guests dined sumptuously on the fruits of the sea. Larry was born in Philadelphia to Earl and Betty Richards. He grew up on St. Alban's Street in South Philadelphia.

"The friends he made in his South Philadelphia neighborhood would remain a special part of his life throughout the years," his family said.

He graduated from John Bartram High School and went on to the Tyler School of Art. While in art school, his landscapes were exhibited at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Louvre in Paris, his family said.

He painted mostly landscapes, working in acrylic early in his career and later in oil, and received many commissions for his art.

Larry became a reference librarian for the Free Library, and when he retired last Jan. 4, he was head of the Inter-Library Loan Department. Along the way, he received many awards and accolades for his work. In 1981, Larry met Beverly Jones - at the library, of course. They were married on June 23, 1984.

"Individually, they were special, but together, they were a power couple," the family said.

After his retirement, he began an Internet business, "A Cinema Apart," featuring rare black memorabilia including movies, posters and other collectibles. He was proud that his company was the No. 1 Web site in this genre.

"For Larry, an idle moment was a wasted opportunity," his family said.

Besides his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Hope, Malaika and Heather; his mother, Betty Nelson; three sisters, Carol B. Jones, Norma Dodson and Sandra Emmanuel; two brothers, Keith and Kenneth Nelson, and five grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Friday at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Spring House Worship Center, Penllyn Pike and Dager Road, Spring House, Montgomery County. *