Ex-GRF director Larry Slutsky died Jan. 13 at age 91
OBITUARY
Lawrence “Larry” Myron Slutsky, 91, who served on the GRF Board of Directors representing Mutual 8 during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, died on Jan. 13, 2026, in Cypress, California, with his daughters by his side.
He lived in Leisure World for more than 10 years and served on the GRF Board from 2020-2022, a season marked by unprecedented upheaval as the COVID-19 virus rampaged. The board closed all amenities in 2020 to protect residents. As the pandemic wore on, members wrestled with the right time to reopen the community, especially outdoor facilities like the golf course and pool. Slutsky and other board members held multiple special meetings to make these hard choices. SLUTSKY
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Slutsky was born on Feb. 19, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in metallurgical engineering and belonged to the fraternity Phi Sigma Delta. He served in the U.S. Army for two years and was honorably discharged from Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. He married in 1959 and moved to California in 1962, mostly working for companies in the aluminum industry as plant metallurgist and manager.
In his retirement, Slutsky found some of the happiest times of his life. He loved to ride his bicycle, dance, listen to Neil Diamond and play cards.
A chance meeting of other cyclists having coffee at a McDonald’s became a pivotal moment in his life, according to a statement from his family. The group grew as others joined and, ultimately, they called themselves the “Bike Bud Group.” For many years, they regularly rode together, venturing as far as San Diego, Truckee and Albuquerque.
In Leisure World, he was known as an avid bridge player. He learned to play in college and resumed playing years later at the Long Beach Bridge Club, where he became a life master. He went on to preside over the Leisure World Seal Beach Bridge Club, where he was known for introducing newcomers to the game through his beginners’ classes.
Years of heartbreak could not quell his love for the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs. Slutsky was eternally upbeat about his Chicago teams and was proud of his Bears this season. On Jan. 10, the team won its first playoff since 2010, against the Green Bay Packers in a thrilling Wild Card comeback (but went on to suffer a rough 20-17 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round).
“Most importantly, Larry had a unique ability to connect with everyone, doing so with a blend of humor, compassion, common sense and wisdom,” wrote daughters Joanne Lopez and Debbie Bonney. “He could often be heard telling a joke or story, bringing a smile to all. He leaves a legacy of goodness in our hearts.”
Slutsky is survived by daughters: Joanne Lopez (John) and Debbie Bonney (Bruce). He will be deeply missed by his three grandchildren: Sean, (Lauren), Megan, (Chris), and Julian (Morgan), plus his two great-grandchildren, Isla and Theo.
Service information is not yet available.
