Larry and I were in the same homeroom and commuted to Cabrillo Jr College in 1964. He had a verycherry hot rod .....really a goer and cool green paint job. Larry was small his first year in high school but started lifting weights and got to be buffed. He was a mild mannered guy and a good person. I miss him
In 1963; the fall; David Coffey, Larry Hitchcock and myself went wild boar hunting in Big Sur. Larry ran our legs off in those steep mountains. We never got a boar and in Feb i joined the Army. Basic was at Fort Ord. In my third or fourth week i got called into the commanding officers office. I was told Larry was close to death and I was wanted in Watsonville. They gave me a pass (unheard of in basic) and I got my car and drove home. I couldn't believe it. I went straight to Larry's house and his mom tried to warn me but I wanted to see my buddy. He was probably all of 98 pounds by then. he said "I'll beath this thing Lee" ... i never understood then how a young strong, good guy like Larry could get cancer. Later I was sent to Germany and Larry wrote me there...i still have all his letters ... and then one day as i prepared to go drink beer and chase fraulines i was taking a leak and suddenly I knew Larry was dead. It swept over me. Three or four days later i got the letters telling me it was so. I was in shock... I left the base and got on a train and for three days rode the rails around europe AWOL. Upon returning to base I was sure i would go to jail ... but the company commander said "glad you came back Lee...now get in there and cut those orders and lets get this medical battalion working again." ... Larry's death was HUGE in my life ... it made me begin a search for truth ... for what this is about ... He was one of the best of the kids ... I will never forget Larry as a friend or as a lifelong encouragement to learn about what we live in the midst of and will soon be leaving .... Thank You Larry Hitchcock ... the tears still come my friend.
Once again, I knew Larry from elementary school. He was my 4th grade crush. (I had a new one each year.) He was sooo cute and had the greatest smile. When we got to junior high and the girls would sit around deciding which boys we wanted to invite to a party, Larry was always on the list, but never came. We later found out that his parents were very religious and didn't believe in many leisure time activities, he was not allowed to play cards, and certainly not allowed to go to parties or dances. I remember all of us being so disappointed at learning that. He was really shy around girls and it was easy to embarrass him (not that we were doing it on purpose). He'll never know how many girls wanted to get to know him much better.
Larry was such a good guy! One of the first people I met when my family moved to Watsonville in the summer of 1959. Think Larry felt sorry for me - he knew just about everyone and I only knew my neighbors. Larry was quiet and shy but was such a great friend - I couldn't believe it when I found out he had cancer - way too young, you left us all too soon!
I went to Minnie White with Larry we both liked to catch fly balls from whoever we could get to hit them during recess. I remember him being left handed and using a first base glove. I remember him having pains that would double him up pretty regularly I believe that was the beginning of his cancer such a shame that it wasn't treated then but no one knew much about cancer then.
When I came home from boot camp (Oct 63) he was the first person I wanted to see and that was the last time I did see him. I still miss him!
Rodney Fort
Larry and I were in the same homeroom and commuted to Cabrillo Jr College in 1964. He had a verycherry hot rod .....really a goer and cool green paint job. Larry was small his first year in high school but started lifting weights and got to be buffed. He was a mild mannered guy and a good person. I miss him
Rod Fort
Lee Leikam
In 1963; the fall; David Coffey, Larry Hitchcock and myself went wild boar hunting in Big Sur. Larry ran our legs off in those steep mountains. We never got a boar and in Feb i joined the Army. Basic was at Fort Ord. In my third or fourth week i got called into the commanding officers office. I was told Larry was close to death and I was wanted in Watsonville. They gave me a pass (unheard of in basic) and I got my car and drove home. I couldn't believe it. I went straight to Larry's house and his mom tried to warn me but I wanted to see my buddy. He was probably all of 98 pounds by then. he said "I'll beath this thing Lee" ... i never understood then how a young strong, good guy like Larry could get cancer. Later I was sent to Germany and Larry wrote me there...i still have all his letters ... and then one day as i prepared to go drink beer and chase fraulines i was taking a leak and suddenly I knew Larry was dead. It swept over me. Three or four days later i got the letters telling me it was so. I was in shock... I left the base and got on a train and for three days rode the rails around europe AWOL. Upon returning to base I was sure i would go to jail ... but the company commander said "glad you came back Lee...now get in there and cut those orders and lets get this medical battalion working again." ... Larry's death was HUGE in my life ... it made me begin a search for truth ... for what this is about ... He was one of the best of the kids ... I will never forget Larry as a friend or as a lifelong encouragement to learn about what we live in the midst of and will soon be leaving .... Thank You Larry Hitchcock ... the tears still come my friend.
Kathy Meidl
Once again, I knew Larry from elementary school. He was my 4th grade crush. (I had a new one each year.) He was sooo cute and had the greatest smile. When we got to junior high and the girls would sit around deciding which boys we wanted to invite to a party, Larry was always on the list, but never came. We later found out that his parents were very religious and didn't believe in many leisure time activities, he was not allowed to play cards, and certainly not allowed to go to parties or dances. I remember all of us being so disappointed at learning that. He was really shy around girls and it was easy to embarrass him (not that we were doing it on purpose). He'll never know how many girls wanted to get to know him much better.
Jeanette (Jan) Dearman (Bogacz)
Larry was such a good guy! One of the first people I met when my family moved to Watsonville in the summer of 1959. Think Larry felt sorry for me - he knew just about everyone and I only knew my neighbors. Larry was quiet and shy but was such a great friend - I couldn't believe it when I found out he had cancer - way too young, you left us all too soon!
Blessings, blessings, blessings,
Jan Dearman
Fred Cuevas
I went to Minnie White with Larry we both liked to catch fly balls from whoever we could get to hit them during recess. I remember him being left handed and using a first base glove. I remember him having pains that would double him up pretty regularly I believe that was the beginning of his cancer such a shame that it wasn't treated then but no one knew much about cancer then.
When I came home from boot camp (Oct 63) he was the first person I wanted to see and that was the last time I did see him. I still miss him!
R.I.P.
Fred Cuevas