Vashon native Larry L. Stevens (81) passed away at his West Seattle home November 12, 2011. Born January 25, 1930, Mr. Stevens founded the innovative Seattle-based real estate finance firm, Wall Street Brokers in 1971. He had fought courageously against Alzheimer's disease for a few years before recently being diagnosed with bladder cancer.Mr. Stevens is survived by a sister, Goldie Stevens Haldeman, and nephew, Mark Haldeman (both Seattle); and six children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild: Children:Lorelei Stevens Scharig (Seattle and Vashon); Gary L. Stevens, (Dana Point CA); Susan Stevens Gallaher (Seattle); Sally Marie Stevens (Seattle); Rory Lawrence Stevens (Seattle); and Maria Mae Stevens (San Francisco CA).Grandchildren: Kyle Stevens (Seattle) and Deirdre Stevens Stearns (Los Angeles CA); Jesse L. Gallaher and Noel Rose Aguilar (Seattle). Great-grandchild: Alonzo Aguilar (Seattle). Larry Stevens lived on Vashon until he was three, when he began shuttling winters in Seattle to summers on Vashon, a pattern that lasted into his teens.He was an active youth, first a paperboy in Seattle, then a logger on the Olympic Peninsula, and later, delivering magazines in Alaska.In the early 1950s, Larry entered military service, joining the Marines. He was stationed in Nevada and became one of those thousands of men exposed to radiation in U.S. nuclear bomb tests, earning him the status of an "Atomic Vet."Larry Stevens was proud all his life of being a Marine a" at the peak of his firm's success, whenever another Marine vet came to do business, Larry would drag him into his private office and swap stories. You could tell when a good one came up because Larry always laughingly slapped the top of his desk so hard it shook the floor. Marine hygiene stuck with him: he brushed his teeth and washed his hands many times a day. Years later, when he fought the grip of Alzheimer's, he could always call out his service number flawlessly.After the military, Larry went into business with his stepfather, Earle Stevens, where he learned a great deal about real estate loans. He continued his hard work on his own in real estate financing and development until 1971 when he had gained enough expertise to incorporate Wall Street Brokers and did well purchasing real estate notes and contracts.Wall Street Brokers, Inc. grew into a successful Seattle real estate note purchasing firm, which is still going strong. That endurance is partly the result of Larry's training his children.As time went on, his oldest daughter, Lorelei, was able to take over the business seamlessly when Alzheimer's began to disable him.He had never wanted to retire, and in a way he didn't because his children are keeping the business going.Larry Stevens always liked a vigorous life.His major sport was jogging and he ran marathons well into his 60's. On his 77th birthday, he even took chain saw carving lessons.Larry Stevens was an interesting, fascinating man whose sense of humor brightened the lives of those around him.He has left us with many good memories and a legacy of achievement for those who knew him and loved him.Funeral services will be held at Island Funeral Home on Sunday, November 20, 2011.Services begin at 11:00 am. A catered lunch will be served at Sound Foods at 12:30 pm, followed by a graveside service at 2:30 pm where the military will play taps