Lawrence Albert "Larry" Bross
Former Paly Baseball Coach, History/Govt./Social Studies Teacher
Age 90
Residence: Oceano, California
Larry Bross, Lawrence "Larry" Albert Bross of Oceano, CA, has died at the age of 90. Larry is survived by his brother Seymour Bross, son Michael Bross (w. Cinda) and daughter, Rachel Bross, as well as four grandchildren Leah Bross, Michaela Wright, Benjamin Bross and Sarah Wright. He is also survived by nephews, Warren and David Bross and their families.
Larry was born in Brooklyn, NY, to Morris and Anna Bross in 1928. He graduated from Tilden High School in Brooklyn, University of Bridgeport in Connecticut and went on to earn a Master's Degree from the University of Oregon.
He was a proud Seaman First Class in the Coast Guard during the Korean War.Along with his then-wife Loretta, Larry moved to San Jose, CA, where they raised their family and he taught History and Government at Palo Alto High School for 30 years.
Since 1988 Larry has lived full-time in Oceano. A modern renaissance man, Larry became an accomplished artist and sculptor. He loved sharing his work and stories with all whom he invited into his home--which was everyone. He made friends easily and kept them close for years.
He cherished the community of Oceano and was willing to share his ideas on its improvement with all who would listen (and some who wouldn't). But it was his family that he loved the deepest and was so proud of, especially his four grandchildren, who will always be guided by his words "you be the best (Sarah, Ben, Michaela, Leah) you can be."
The family would like to thank the kind people of the Oceano community who celebrated with Larry on his 90th birthday in September, which is how they would like him to be remembered.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Arroyo Grande Library (800 West Branch, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420), where Larry found great joy among his books and the library's willingness to forgive his late returns. Services are in the care of Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel.
Former Paly teacher, baseball coach dies
Officials on Friday identified the man found dead in his home in Oceano as a well-known community activist.Th e body of Lawrence Albert Bross, 90, was found on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 24, 2019) in a house on the 1400 block of Strand Way , according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.Bross’s death is being investigated as a homicide, and officials are conducting an autopsy. Greg Mills, who discovered Bross’s body, told The Tribune on Thursday his neighbor appeared to have been beaten and stabbed. “There was a lot of blood,” Mills said. “No one should go that way.” Bross, known as Larry, was a retired history teacher who lived in the home he called his “escape cabin” on Strand Way since 1969 , according to New Times archives. He was also a longtime advocate for the community of Oceano, Tribune archives show . Bross led a protest walk-out of a federal government workshop about offshore oil and pushed for limits on off-road vehicles on the Oceano Dunes for decades, even before it became a state recreation area in 1982. Bross expressed disdain over some of the side effects of the off-road vehicle park in his backyard. In 2010, he successfully appealed the county’s attempt to sell 584 acres it owns in the park to the state. |
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sanluisobispo/obituary.aspx?n=larry-bross&pid=191400858&fhid=20254
Pamela Kiraly (West) (1961)
Posted on behalf of RICHARD BEAHRS
January 30, 2019
I was fortunate enough to have Larry as both a coach and high school teacher in the early 1960's in Palo Alto. A wonderful, caring and generous man . His family should know how universally liked and appreciated he was by all of us who considered him a friend and mentor
Dick Beahrs
Posted on behalf of RON REMMEL
January 31, 2019
I too was fortunate enough to have Larry as a teacher and friend during my High School years at Paly. Larry was an inspiration to anyone that knew him. He had the ability to kid around with and enjoy his students and at the same time impart a sense of responsibility and community on those he helped guide through those very magical years of the 1960's.
I have never known anyone with a more caring nature or anyone with Larry's ability to challenge his students, friends and community to do better. I extend my condolences to Larry's family and friends over his passing. We have lost but will never forget a gentle man that made a positive difference in the lives of so many.
Ron Remmel