South Avenue hit-and-run victim recalled as protector

By Jon Moffett

Police have not located a suspect in the homicide.

YOUNGSTOWN — A Marine’s duty is to put others before themselves and to look out for their neighbors.

And Paul Larsen took his duty seriously.

“He believed in protecting his family, friends and everybody and taking care of them,” said Melissa, his wife of 31 years. “And if that meant he had to go that one step more by being a Marine, he was going to do it, and he did it very well.”

The 52-year-old Campbell man was killed Tuesday night attempting to cross South Avenue near Ravenwood Avenue. He and Melissa were out celebrating the opening of a friend’s business, Piggy’s Bar. Shortly after 9 p.m., Larsen went to retrieve the car. He was struck by a vehicle in the southbound lane, which knocked him into the northbound lane where he was struck by a second vehicle. He was taken to St. Elizabeth’s Health Center. He died early Wednesday morning.

Melissa said she waited for him for a few minutes, unaware of the accident. But when he didn’t return she became concerned. She went outside and noticed an accident down the street.

“I said to myself, ‘He’s down there gawking at that accident,’ but when I went down there I saw that it was him. He was the accident,” she said.

Witnesses said the driver of the first vehicle, a white pickup truck, made a U-turn and drove past the scene before fleeing. The second vehicle to hit Larsen remained. Police continue to search for the driver of the truck.

“To drive away means that they didn’t care, and that’s terrible that they didn’t care enough and would leave somebody lying in the road,” Melissa said. “If they never find them, I hope they carry that burden with them forever, because if it were someone in their family, they’d be screaming and yelling for justice, yet they wouldn’t do it for someone else.”

A fan of history, Larsen loved to go to museums and read about the subject. He also enjoy working on cars.

“Don’t ask him to change a light bulb or [address] an electrical issue, but he could work on a car,” Melissa said.

As well as a historian and casual mechanic, Larsen was a patriot. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 20 years and retired in 1995. “Semper Fidelis” is the Marines motto; it’s Latin for “always faithful.” Melissa said her husband embodied that motto.

“He would always help out our neighbors by shoveling snow or mowing their yards,” Melissa said. “He made sure he looked out for everybody ... He was ornery and stubborn, but his heart was so good and he would do anything for anybody.”

The Larsens were high school sweethearts, meeting at Mathews High School in Vienna. They have two children, Sharon, 29, and Josh, 27. They also have a granddaughter, Kyleigh, who is 3.

Melissa said she was originally drawn to him because of his confidence.

“I think it was because he always seemed so determined and he always knew what he wanted to do,” Melissa said. “He just had that direction about him.”

Melissa said she’ll remember her husband’s eyes and smile, but mostly his heart.

“We knew what was in each other’s hearts, and we didn’t even have to say it,” she said.

Funeral services will be today at 10 a.m. at St. Columba Cathedral on Rayen Avenue.

jmoffett@vindy.com