Lawrence Andrew Jackson

Lawrence Andrew Jackson, a beloved member of the Pacific Palisades community for 45 years, passed away on Aug. 20 of natural causes in his own home. He was 84.

Jackson, better known to his friends and loved ones simply as Larry or LA Jackson, was born Oct. 20, 1930, to loving parents Graham B. and Ilah L. Jackson in Williamston, Michigan. There he resided for most of his childhood until he left for Michigan State University.

Following graduation from Michigan State in geological studies he served two years as an army officer at Fort Carson. He later returned to his alma mater for post-graduate work, which he subsequently finished at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Larry wed the love of his life Rosina Jackson in 1955, and following Larry’s completion of studies in Colorado they moved to Southern California in 1959. In 1970 the couple made their home in the Palisades.

His illustrious career included working as an engineering geologist for the State Water Project. Larry was proud of his work on the Oroville Dam and California Water Aqueduct in the Tehachapi Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains.

He moved on to join the DWP Los Angeles water supply division. Much of his time was spent supervising the Reservoir Surveillance Group as an engineering geologist for dam safety.

His region encompassed about 30 dams and reservoirs. These dams are located high above populated areas where tens of thousands of lives and property could have been threatened if a dam or reservoir had ever broken.

He was a third generation Mason and a lifelong member of the Grand Lodge of Masons at Williamston, Michigan, Lodge 153. He was also a past member of the American Legion Post 283 in Pacific Palisades.

He will be remembered by family, colleagues and friends as a great geologist with a wealth of knowledge, always ready to help and a wonderful sense of humor.

Larry has now joined his beloved wife Rosina, who passed away in 1999, and together they will be remembered for their joint love of jetting off to exotic and remote locations around the globe and returning with wonderful tales of adventure.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Larry’s memory can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.