Larry Leslie Cusick

Passed peacefully February 4, 2021, knowing he was loved, cherished and forgiven.

Our dad lived his life with the best of intentions. The goals he could not achieve he placed in the hands of his kids, grandkids and all the children he coached. He made everyone feel like they could do anything, the sky was not a limit but a starting point. Helping strangers, who then became friends was his passion. He knew the names and life stories of the grocery clerks, drive through attendants, and anyone who needed a helping hand, our dad was there to help.

If you ever met Larry, you felt his infectious love for all things sports, including the Brooklyn Dodgers and how moving out of Brooklyn was a travesty, The Portland Trailblazers and how the 1977 win with Bill Walton at the helm could never be accomplished again, University of Oregon Football and Kenny Wheaton’s “The Pick” in 1994, Ebbets Field, Cooperstown, Jackie Robinson and of course the 1988 World Series home run by Kirk Gibson and the infamous manager Tommy Lasorda, he could go on and on with that one. Larry could hold any sports conversation past or present and make you feel as if you were there in person.

Larry was proud to tell you he was in the first graduating class at Jesuit High School. He would go on and on about the accomplishments made by his kids and grandkids because he knew he had a special part in all of us. He had the best stories to tell and instead of writing them in a book, he gave them to all of us to share.

He took so much pride in teaching life lessons, whether it was how to parallel park, throw a baseball, wrap any present in a paper bag, fix almost anything with duct-tape, always walk out the door with your head up and ironed clothes and of course the pocket full of candy he could sneak anyone and put a smile on your face. If you had a dilemma, he could rationalize like no one, always prompting you to think and make an educated decision. If you were making a bad choice in life, even if he made it, he wanted more for you and would help guide you to make a better decision.

If you have a Coach Larry story to share, please do! He taught us all so much and his teachings should never be forgotten.

If you would like to honor Coach Larry's memory, please make a donation to www.baldfacedtruth.org to support Camp Exceptional, an event which hosts kids. This would be so meaningful to him and to all of us.