Family, Phillies, and Ice Cream
A tribute to a true Philly Phanatic
Larry loved his family and he loved the Phillies. He also loved ice cream.
It’s difficult to type those words in the past tense. Nearly a year later, the absence of this kind and generous man is felt each day. In this newsletter, we celebrate the passions of true fans. So in the midst of a somewhat improbable run to the World Series, I wanted to reflect on this devoted Phillies fan, who I had the great fortune to call my father-in-law.
With Larry, it’s important to know that family always came first. Of course, this expression is used a lot, but I can attest that his commitment was pure and unassailable. And yet, the bar to be considered a part of his family was not a high one. He never behaved like those fathers who put a potential son-in-law through a tough guy litmus test. From the moment we met, he was welcoming and warm, and he treated me with respect from that day forward.
It turned out Larry and I shared a number of interests - chief among them, talking a lot. As a result, on family trips I would often find myself placed in the front seat while he drove. The pretext was that I could keep him company and possibly keep him under 70 MPH. In truth, I think everyone else wanted a break because Larry had strong and endless opinions. He also had tremendous recall. Once, while on a day trip, I asked him to name all of the cars he had owned. But he misunderstood the question and proceeded to list every vehicle his parents had owned from the time he was born, in 1951, followed by each one he had owned personally. Before he could finish we had reached our two-hour destination.
We also shared a love of baseball. Larry would tell me great, vivid stories about growing up in Philadelphia and being a Phillies fan, including attending games at old Shibe Park, later known as Connie Mack Stadium. On a memorable drive through North Philadelphia, not far from where the park once was located, he described a youthful climb up the frighteningly steep upper deck grandstand - criticizing the lack of any real safety measures, while at the same time, lamenting the loss of the game’s iconic ballparks.
The grandstand at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium
Larry’s attachment to the Phillies was ironclad, and - in addition to being an extraordinary family man - it’s something I always admired about him. He moved to Connecticut in 1980, but his support never wavered. According to legend, when the Phillies won the World Series later that year, he jumped and stomped around his Norwalk apartment with such enthusiasm that the downstairs neighbors eventually complained. Let me say this: good for him. If your team wins a championship and you don’t disturb the neighbors, you’re doing something wrong.
One of the last times I saw Larry was in June of last year. We were celebrating his 70th birthday, and regrettably it was the final opportunity I had to speak with him. Of course, I didn’t know this at the time. Illness had begun to take its toll, but he still was talkative and as earnest as ever. Later in the afternoon, we found ourselves downstairs in the family room with the Phillies game on the TV. They were playing the Giants on the road, and while we watched the action I realized he didn’t have much knowledge about the Phillies’ season, which was uncharacteristic. So instead we chatted about that magnificent ballpark on the bay and he reflected on a visit to San Francisco several decades earlier. Then we went upstairs and ate some delicious ice cream, which Larry could eat faster than anyone on the planet. He was the Usain Bolt of ice cream.
I have thought about this moment a lot over the past 10 months, and especially while the Phillies have continued to win this postseason. I’ll admit, their success has presented a mix of emotions for me. On the one hand, it’s wonderful to see the team Larry adored playing so well. At the same time, I really miss him, and it’s difficult that he’s not here to experience it. I can imagine how thrilled he would have been when Bryce Harper hit the go-ahead home run on Sunday - a blast that surely will be a part of Philadelphia legend for generations to come. It’s quite possible Larry would have disturbed the neighbors several houses away.
The World Series begins on Friday, and - if I’m being honest - I don’t know if I will end up watching many of the games. They start late and I’m awake early. But I will be following along, thinking about Larry, and if the Phillies win it all, I promise you, I will be having a big bowl of ice cream in his honor.