Larry Clarence

Larry Clarence

February 11, 2009

Having lived life to the fullest, finding

happiness in business and family life,

and pursuing his passions of wandering

the San Bernardino mountains and

bodysurfing Orange County beaches,

Larry Clarence, 71, died on February

11, 2009, surrounded by his family at

home overlooking the ocean in Laguna Beach.

Larry met his wife, Barbara, while they attended Pacific High

School in San Bernardino, California. They married as

students at UC Santa Barbara, and had three children. After

Larry’s graduation, the family settled into La Mirada,

California but moved around the country as Larry was

promoted through the ranks of Alcoa Aluminum. Living in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Davenport Iowa and West Lafayette,

Indiana, the family amazed their Midwest neighbors by

barbequing Larry’s signature spare ribs in the sleet and rain,

and serving up Southern California oddities such as

guacamole and tacos while weathering more snow than they

thought possible. No longer able to resist the attraction of

sun and family ties, Larry accepted a position with Alumax

Aluminum and moved his family to Riverside in 1970. Larry

ventured beyond life in a large corporate setting, and started

his own business distributing and manufacturing plastic

containers, and later biodegradable products.

In 2004, Larry and Barbara realized their longtime dream of

moving to a house with a view of the water in Laguna Beach.

Their life at the beach has been enlivened by frequent visits by

their children and grandchildren, and travel that took them

to four continents in the span of eighteen months.

Larry quickly became part of the Laguna Beach community.

Runners, bikers and dog walkers alike were greeted by him

from his front deck. When not ensconced on his perch there

or running his business from his ocean view office or traveling

abroad with children and grandchildren, Larry liked nothing

better than to wander through downtown art galleries and

support local artists.

In January of 2008, Larry was diagnosed with a glioblastoma

brain tumor. He faced the diagnosis and treatment with the

same positive attitude and fight that served him so well in

business and on the tennis court. With Barbara by his side

every minute of the way, and Nanci, Steve and Jan

commuting often from their homes in the Bay Area, Larry

fought his disease with every bit of energy he possessed.

Larry Clarence, was born on December 30, 1937, the third

son of Rose and Leslie Clarence. He is survived by his wife,

Barbara Clarence, three children, Nanci, Steven and Janice,

daughter-in-law, Lynne Clarence, daughter-in-law, Lidia

Szajko, son-in-law, Mike McCarthy, three grandchildren, Kira,

Zachary and Austin, his mother, Rose Adair, siblings Kenneth

Clarence, Lynda Church and Sherry Fenley.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations can be

made to a scholarship fund in Larry’s name at the Laguna

College of Art and Design, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road,

Laguna Beach, California 92651.