Lawrence Joseph Hadobas

Long-time Covina resident Lawrence (Larrie) Hadobas passed away at home in Indio, California on May 30, 2015.

Few people could light up a room like Larrie. His vibrant love-of-life and cup-half-full optimism were contagious. Whether family or friend, young or old, business acquaintance or newly-met stranger, Larrie had a unique way of making all those around him feel like he truly cared for them. And he did.

Born in Steubenville, Ohio, he was an accomplished basketball player and swimmer in school. During World War II, he served in Italy with the U.S. Air Force. He returned and met Charlotte, who became his wife for over 50 years. They landed in West Covina in 1955, and raised four children: Connie, Bob, Dave, and Paul.

Larrie coached Little League teams at Cortez Park, and the family spent summers in Lake Tahoe, enjoying their catamaran. He started Corporate Aide, a successful merger and acquisition business, which he managed from home. For about 7 years, Larrie proved the consummate care-giver as Charlotte declined from frontal-lobe dementia, which lead to her passing in 2000.

Five years later, Larrie started looking at longtime family friend, Barbara Baker (whose husband also passed in 2000), in a new light. Both at 83, they married and began spending winters in Indio and summers in Colorado. They lead very active lives up until signs of mulitple myeloma began for Larrie just a few months ago. Their "senior love story" has been inspirational.

Larrie will be interned, next to his first wife Charlotte, by his immediate family at Covina's Forest Lawn. A social reception commemorating Larrie's life will be open to all friends and extended family on July 18th at son Paul's house in Alta Loma. In lieu of flowers, those inclined to make a donation are asked to consider the League to Save Lake Tahoe (KeepTahoeBlue.org) or the American Cancer Society (Cancer.org).