Peter Laris, BHS Teacher (1925-2020)

Photo from 1965 Burbank High Ceralbus Yearbook 

Sad news... Brandon Coen wrote today, 12/26/2020, on Facebook...· 

Peter Laris, a longtime BHS Spanish teacher passed away earlier this week. My father, class of 66 had kept in touch with him and his family. 

I had Mr Laris for Spanish. He was a great teacher and it was a fun class! 

This photo is of him with fellow teacher, Mr North in 2010. 

FIND A GRAVE Link

Aug 3, 1925 -  Dec 21, 2020 (age 95)

We send our deepest condolences to his family and here are a few Facebook comments: 

• Peggy Beliveau

  I had him for Spanish in the 10th grade...
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Mike O'Connell
Spanish in summer school and 10th grade. Good teacher and a good man.
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Alan Landros
I took a similar photo at a Senior Bulldogs luncheon in Burbank, shortly after Mr. Laris and Mr. North had both attended our BHS '70 40th reunion in June 2010. Now both are gone. Peter Laris was 95, since I remember that he was born in 1925. Pete Laris was also scheduled to attend our BHS '70 45th reunion in June 2015. But, a 90th birthday party for his brother-in-law in Orange County came up, and Pete had to go with his wife for that family event instead! Mr. Peter Laris taught with the BUSD for 35 years from 1953 until 1988. He first taught at John Muir Junior High, then Burroughs High, and then from 1960 he taught at BHS for 28 years until he retired in 1988. He taught Spanish, as well as Advanced 3rd and 4th year Spanish. He remained physically fit into later years, jogging two to three miles a day, at least up to 90 years old!
Brandon Coen
I remember Pete talked about your dad, Ron, a lot!! He would talk about how Ron needed to concentrate more on his Spanish studies to do better in Pete's classes, then despite all of that, he eventually became an L.A. County Judge!! Pete mentioned that many times! I remember Pete saying how your dad had Pete come to his courtroom and how your dad recognized him as his good friend and long ago teacher!


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Larry Segall
Que en paz descanse, Profe.

Barry Burnett
Larry Segall
de veras. Muy buen hombre y amigo de nosotros.

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Cathy Rehfeld Schwalm
He taught me Spanish......God speed. Condolences to his friends and family.

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Sue Flynn
Had him in ‘60

 
David De Hart
Peter Laris became a good friend of mine. I will miss his kindness, wit, wonderful stories and knowledge on jazz and sports. He also loved the symphony. I called him for advice before becoming a teacher. He did not recommend it since it paid so little. It is perhaps the only advise from Pete I did not heed. I modeled my teaching after him. I tried to infuse humor, kindness and rigor into my classroom as did he. For a number of years, his wonderful wife would cook dinner for me and my son, Lucas when we would head to southern California during ski week in February to visit my daughter in college, as my wife traveled in Europe with a group of students. Lucas and Peter shared a great love for jazz and Peter would play some of his favorite songs. On his request, Lucas played for Peter one evening in their home. He loved it. On one summer trip home from a week of body surfing at the beach, our family stopped at his lovely home for an incredible brunch Celia had put together for us. The margaritas were terrific. Peter and Celia were a wonderful and cultured couple who loved one another so much and raised two beautiful daughters. I had Peter for 3 years of Spanish. After returning to school on a Friday night to watch me play basketball, he began calling me El Tigre in class. When our class refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance in protest of the Vietnam War, he listened to our concerns. So he made us a deal, instead he would spend a few minutes reading from a book on democracy by Supreme Court justice William O. Douglas. Peter served as president of his teachers' union as did I, so we traded some funny stories. He told me once a teacher had charged him with some ridiculous claim. When he appeared before the district lawyer and superintendent to defend himself, he explained the woman was at fault for moral turpitude; she was always kissing the principal's ass. Everyone broke into laughter and that was the end of the meeting. I will always remember the night that Peter and his family took me out to dinner at a lovely restaurant in Berkeley years ago on a visit to the bay area. Peter was running around Silver Lake in his 90's as he had done when teaching at Burbank High. He would rise early in the morning to run and after work take a nap to get ready for the evening. He loved his gin and tonics and we would talk often on the phone. Wow, how he would have me in stitches with laughter. I will end on one last story. During WW II, he got lucky and became very ill so he was not shipped to Europe with his other soldiers. Instead, he ended up in Arkansas guarding German prisoners. One day on duty, he saw in the far distance two rabbit ears sticking up above the brush, but not moving. He was a great shot so he took aim and nailed the rabbit that was thrown into the air. Thinking that Peter had shot it on the run, the German soldiers held him in high regard and perhaps a bit of fear from then on. Peter Laris enriched my life in so many ways. I will be forever grateful for our extraordinary friendship. My love to the Laris family, and to you my friend Pete, RIP. Photo: 2015


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Joan Chandler
I had Mr Laris for Spanish at BHS also. He was a great teacher! May he now Rest In Peace. Sending condolences to his family and friends.
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Theresa N. Todd
Best Spanish teacher ever! I had him and just loved him and his sweet smile and soul. I was forever touched by him. I just adored him and always looked forward to his class everyday! He always took the time to explain to me, even after class. I told him I wanted to learn Spanish cuz every time I would go visit my grandparents for the summer my grandfather would wip out his Spanish dictionary and I wanted to be able to converse and practice with him. And, little did I know that my 1st husband would be hispanic and I would be moving to Guadalajara Mexico for the next 10 years. So happy I took Spanish for those 3 years to have had a base and foundation to build on. Brazos y besos Senor Laris. Prayers for your beautiful family! You will never be forgotten! Xoxo My nickname from him, Traviesa! 
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Terri Fall
More than language, he gave life and art and music, and a dry wit. Mr Laris touched your heart and then your life. Condolences to his family.

 
Loanne Walker Ginchereaux

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Julie Fioravanti
Not only was he a great Spanish teacher but he was a fantastic role model for teachers, in general. He was funny, witty, and wildly patient. I've always had fond memories of Senior Laris.
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Ron Duncan
I had him in 9th grade at Muir.
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Steve Hollingshead
Little did I know back in 72-74 while I was en la clase de español del Profesor Laris that my life would involve Spanish, I might have been a better student. One memory from his class was the song “Bésame” which I play for my Spanish classes every year. I have spent the past 45 years teaching Spanish as a missionary, in the military and in public education!! Qué le vaya bien con los ángeles profe!!

 
Susan Brown Harris
I remember singing Besame Mucho in class. And he locked the door to the classroom because I was always late! And your nickname, El Tigre.

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John P. Johnson
I had him for 3 years and loved his Spanish class I will never forget the field trip to Olivera Street.

 
John Todora
My wife, Liliana Vargas at the time, met in his Spanish 3 class in 1968. Jeanne Redberg introduced us. 52 years later we are still together. Sue, I remember Besame mucho too and Mr.Laris moving our seats every so often so we would not grow toward the sunlight coming through the windows. He was a good guy, somehow I passed the class. Quien sabe?

 
Sean Andrews
RIP Sr. Laris.

 
Loree Agai
Oh I love Sr. Laris. He was the best. Had him every year at BHS and was his TA my senior year. Very smart, funny man.
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Art Boylan
Many fond memories of senor laris. Had him all three years at BHS. Took a field trip to olvera Street and walked thru downtown Los Angeles with our class during senior year he commanded respect and always got it or there would be hell to pay.

Tom Di Liberto

tSponSadly, my high school Spanish teacher, Pete Laris, died a few days ago. He was by far the best teacher I ever had, who taught me much more than the language. He was a brilliant guy, an avid jazz and classical music aficionado, a tireless advocate for his fellow teachers, an astute judge of character, and was astonishingly witty. He had a profound impact on me and many others. I was fortunate to become not just his pupil, but also his friend until his passing. I miss him already. Descanse en paz, Maestro.