Learning about the death of a loved one during finals week is certainly stressful. But when I heard news of the death of the Rev. Ed Larkin, S.J., I felt more than stress. I felt a tremendous loss.

My former undergraduate adviser e-mailed me the notification that the Fr. Larkin died on Dec. 13, 2008. She wrote to me, “I think this is the Jesuit you are so fond of. I’m sorry to hear about this.”

I couldn’t control my tears and a sincere classmate, unaware of the situation, told me I would do great on my final and not to worry. I wished I was crying over a final, not Fr. Larkin.

The reality of it though was that Fr. Larkin, whom I truly was so fond of, was gone. I’d like to think my relationship with Fr. Larkin was privileged, but in actuality, everyone who came in contact with Fr. Larkin was touched by his kindness and sincerity.

I had the honor of getting to know Fr. Larkin through my undergraduate years at Creighton. During those four years I worked in the Jesuit Kitchen and spent many nights with Fr. Larkin who, to use his words, was “one cool cat.” He was in fact such a cool cat that I’d written an article about Fr. Larkin while a student reporter for the Creightonian.

I was so excited to write the article. I wanted Fr. Larkin to know that he had had a profound impact on me. The night before the article came out, I told him the Creightonian would have a surprise for him. The following day, he came into the kitchen with tears in his eyes. That was 2005.

I formed many memories with Fr. Larkin in the years since. In the spring of 2006, I decided to study abroad. Fr. Larkin was more excited about my journey than me, but he was also very nervous that I wouldn’t come back to Omaha. Before I left, he imparted his travel wisdom: keep your money in a deodorant stick because thieves won’t find it. I have since learned that he offered this clever advice to others. While abroad I sent weekly updates via e-mail. Fr. Larkin came to the kitchen every Wednesday where a coworker read him my updates.

Fr. Larkin loved to hear the student workers’ life updates. He always wanted to make sure we had everything we needed.

In the winter, he used to drag out a multitude of knit hats and scarves and offer them to all of us, just in case we needed them.

Just in case we needed Creighton basketball tickets, he offered those too.

One time he offered me cash, just in case I needed it, in the event that a boy tried to get “fresh” and I needed a cab ride home.

Fr. Larkin was there for everyone’s needs, whether they were monetary, emotional, spiritual or material.

In my first article about Fr. Larkin, I told people to find their Fr. Larkin. Now I don’t think that was possible. He was not just one cool cat … he was one of a kind.

Kate Prasse

Second-year Law