Clyde Burdette Bornhurst

Clyde ‘Larry’ Burdette Bornhurst, born November 8, 1928, in Aberdeen, South Dakota to Isabelle Clancy and Clyde Burdette Bornhurst. Larry was raised by his mother, Isabelle in southern California, attending boarding school at Mission San Luis Rey with his sisters Jeanne and Charlotte.

Larry entered the mission boarding school at age 3, staying though age 15 until he joined the Merchant Marines during World War II. Injured in the line of duty, he returned home after a nine-month recovery at a New Guinea military hospital. When the Korean war started, Larry was drafted requesting that he join the Army front lines to be in the action.

Throughout his life, Larry had many hobbies and passions. Astronomy was one such hobby that turned a passion into a career. He helped to build Ford Observatory on Mount Peltier until he moved on to become the superintendent at the observatory park on Mount Wilson. He and his then wife, Estelle, would raise their family on Mount Wilson. He eventually earned an Assistant Director and faculty position with the University of Arizona Astronomy department. He was tasked with supervising Mt. Bigelow Observatories, as well as working with the Pope on an ideal placement of the Vatican telescope, which was ultimately placed near Safford on Mount Graham.

Larry was a ham radio operator, skydiver, surfer, marathon runner, and airplane pilot-often flying friends and family, such as the University of Arizona president to Mexico for research of the Tarahumara Tribe. He founded Flying Samaritans Tucson chapter, piloting doctors and dentists to remote underserved areas, helping those in need. He accomplished similar work on a ship as captain of the vessel taking clinicians and medical supplies to remote islands caring for the sick. As a motorcycle racing enthusiast, in 1974 he broke and set the record for the fastest time, 11 hours 50 minutes, from Tijuana to La Paz. He always took the challenge when it was said it just couldn’t be done!

When retirement came about much the same action-packed adventures were at hand. He and his wife Marj worked tirelessly to prepare their sailboat for an exploration like no other. They sailed south from California through the Panama Canal, ending their adventure in Connecticut one year later. The stories were rich and sometimes even hard to believe, yet they were all true. Once back on land, Larry found research work in California performing classified work that he always noted must not be disclosed. He enjoyed the work yet never spilled the beans as to what the role entailed. From there, Marj and Larry moved back to Arizona to enjoy their time with family and friends. The days were still filled with sports such as skiing, and hobbies like woodworking that was sought after by many.

All in all, whether by ship, sailboat, plane or motorcycle, he traveled the world many times over.

Larry is preceded in death by mother Isabelle, father Clyde, sisters Jeanne and Charlotte. He is survived by wife Marjory, son Bruce (Susan), daughters Patricia (Scott) and Phyllis (William), stepdaughters Chris (Tony) and Sylvia (Jim), stepson Denny (Sheila), nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Larry was known for living life to the absolute fullest (if that was not clear above) and enthusiastically loved to learn new things, meet new people, and find adventure.

If Larry could sign off on this obituary he would say “It has been a great ride!”