Lawrence S. Lerner, March 10, 1934-January 3, 2026.)

Larry Lerner, Ph.D. earned his A.B., S.M., and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago in 1953, 1955, and 1962, respectively. In PBKNCA he was Teaching Excellence Chair from 1992-1998 and member of the Teaching Excellence committee from 1987. After a stint working in industry, he joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy at California State University, Long Beach, in 1969, becoming emeritus in 1999. His books included a translation of Giordano Bruno's La cena de le ceneri (with Edward A. Gosselin, 1977), Physics: Foundations and Applications (with Robert M. Eisberg, 1981), and Physics for Scientists and Engineers (1996)., Member, National Faculty for the Humanities, Arts and Sciences; winner of at least four teaching awards. Proofreader extraordinaire of the PBKNCA Newsletter, and a long-term friend. 

Larry was very proud of being instrumental in bring a chapter of PBK to Cal State Long Beach.  He was also active in Eugenie Scott's organization, the National Center for Science Education. 

He was born in New York City on March 10, 1934, the only child of Isadore and Manya Lerner. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in NY in 1953, and got an A.B. and then a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago in 1962. He and Narcinda (Cindy) got married in 1959 when they were graduate students (they both got their Ph.D. degrees in 1962; Cindy’s in chemistry) 

After receiving his Ph.D., he went to work at Hughes Research Laboratories in California, working in the aerospace industry. He also worked at Lockheed and Hewlett Packard. But his main professional career was in the physics department at the Long Beach State University, beginning about 1969. 

He authored 2 textbooks on physics for undergraduates, which were well received. He was also a scholar of the early scientist Gordano Bruno, and with colleague Edward Gosselin, translated Bruno's book, the Ash Wednesday Supper. He was also considered an expert on science textbooks, and was widely consulted not only in California but also in other states.  

He was active in the Newfoundland Club of America, and at one point held the office of president. He and Cindy were also active in the local NCA. He liked to show dogs in the confirmation category, and handled dogs some of which became champions. He was an active member of the Bay Area Skeptics organization and attended their events for decades until physical decline restricted his abilities to do so. He and Cindy also enjoyed attending opera, the symphony, and Gilbert and Sullivan. At times during his life he enjoyed singing: as a student, he participated in a madrigal group and also in a group performing classical music when living in southern California. He particularly enjoyed singing Brahm's Requiem.  

Another contribution Larry made was in the 1990s and 2000s to the state of California's efforts to improve science education. He served on several panels and committees shaping versions of the California Science Framework, and the approval of science textbooks over those years. He also had an interesting stint serving as an expert for the state of California in its decision in 1990, a legal case involving the Institute for Creation Research's attempt to get state permission to grant degrees. He and the other scientists reviewing their credentials determined that the Institute did not meet the criteria established by the state of California. Larry received the Friend of Darwin award from the National Center for Science Education in 2003. 

He died on January 3, 2026 at the age of 91, in his sleep, primarily from complications of heart failure.