Remembering Larry Oakes

The Minnesota journalism community mourns the loss of longtime Star Tribune reporter Larry Oakes, who died last Friday at age 52.

Oakes’ obituary in the Star Tribune described him as an “adept handyman, a non-judgemental and remarkable listener, a deeply loving father and husband, and an uncompromising champion of the human spirit.”

He excelled at covering life across the state, but especially in northern Minnesota.

Oakes’ best-known projects included his 2004 series “The Lost Youth of Leech Lake.” He also produced “The New Life Sentence,” a 2008 series that delved into Minnesota’s controversial practice of locking up sex offenders indefinitely.

“He was a city editor for a couple of years, but couldn’t deny his passion for telling stories of the human condition and asked back into a reporter’s role. The journalism world was grateful he did.”

Both the Star Tribune article and obituary about Oakes are available online, as well as commentary by editorial pages editor Scott Gillespie.

Oakes’ family intends to establish a journalism scholarship in his name, and an educational trust for his grandchildren.

Visitation will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC), Harbor Side Ballroom. There will be a memorial service 1-2 p.m., with reception to follow