 It was at Venice High School, in 1967 when they first met. He played football and baseball. She didn’t know what the two were. He asked her out on a date. She said she was busy, but to later ask again. So he did…some two years later. And the rest…as they say, is history. “It wasn’t love at first sight,” states Larry, “but I definitely knew there was an attraction. Lynn was a very popular girl and I had to wait for the right opportunity to ask her out.” After five years of dating, Larry asked Lynn for her hand in marriage. “He gave me a ring on Christmas as a gift,” states Lynn. On March 24, 1974, the couple wed in Santa Monica, with over 500 guests in attendance. Both Larry and Lynn worked for the Auto Club of Southern California for over twenty years. Together, they have two daughters, Melissa and Diana. “Both our daughters are outstanding elementary school teachers in the Newhall School District,” state Lynn and Larry. “They have been working there for over ten years and we are very proud of them. In 1993, Larry was asked by a longtime friend and fellow Venice High grad, to serve on the Board of the Midnight Mission. The Midnight Mission is one of the oldest continuously operating human service organizations in the Los Angeles region. Centered in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles, The Midnight Mission runs one of the most efficient direct service operations in the county, offering hope for the homeless through counseling, education, training and job placement, as well as providing food, shelter clothing, medical care and more. “As an executive at the automobile Club, we were encouraged to be active in our support of community based organizations and where opportunities existed, for us to share our talents in supporting those needs. In 1993, I accepted the position to serve on the Board of The Midnight Mission,” states Larry. In 1995, the Board began a major planning effort to evaluate the organization’s future commitments and to plan for the acquisition and construction of a new facility. In 1997, Larry was asked to take on the role of a leader, helping strengthen the future success of the Mission’s new vision. In April of 1998, Larry accepted the role and joined the agency. “Despite the fact that I enjoyed the role I played at the Automobile Club,” states Larry, “I saw The Midnight Mission as an opportunity to be a part of building a better community.” “It is not in Larry’s DNA to say ‘no’ and he has and continues to be very involved in public service,” states Lynn. “Larry is a take charge, creative, intelligent and compassionate person who always puts others before himself, and he is totally dedicated to our family.” In 2006, Lynn retired after working as an agent for an insurance company in Newhall, and has continuously supported her husband and his endeavors to fulfill the goals of the Midnight Mission organization. “Lynn is the quintessential partner,” states Larry. “She is one of the most sincere and caring people to grace this world. She raised our two wonderful daughters, who very much share in her value system, and now is grandmother supreme to our grandchildren. Lynn has allowed me to be in the limelight, but behind the scenes, she has always been my confidant and voice of reason. Her strengths are a perfect complement to me and vise-versa.” |
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