Larry Brink

1923 - 2016

Larry Brink Larry Brink has again put on his cleats, donned his #63 jersey, and left this world to resume his gridiron career beyond the stars. At the time of his death, Sunday, August 7, at 92 years, he was the only surviving member of the 1951 World Champion Los Angeles Rams. Larry was born in Pease, Minnesota, September 12, 1923, one of twelve children weathering the Great Depression with their parents on a 200 acre farm. By the end of high school, he had reached his mature height of 6'6" and received a scholarship from the University of Illinois. He left for Chicago but never arrived; instead he landed in Italy, his team was the US Army Air Corps. When the war ended he attended Northern Illinois University and married Leatha Hyland. In 1948 he was the 1st player from NIU ever drafted by the NFL, and he headed for LA. Larry played for the Rams from 1948-1953 and ended his career with the Chicago Bears in 1954. He was voted All-Pro at his position for 3 years. Larry left the NFL to open a Lincoln/Mercury dealership in Mill Valley, California. To this day, you can see the legendary "Larry Brink" license plate frames on vintage Continentals and Cougars. He was the coach of his sons' teams and produced some legendary Little League Baseball and Pop Warner Football teams. He and his family enjoyed boating on the San Francisco Bay and Delta, and also spent a lot of time serving and volleying at the Mill Valley Tennis Club where he met and later married Betty Stephens. They spent the 1st three years of their marriage in Hawaii. But Larry could not stay away from business and returned to Marin County where he ran a tennis equipment wholesale company for 20 years. In 2000, he and Betty moved to Redding where at age 80 he took up a new sport (golf) and basked in the companionship of his wife and the visits of his extended family which included 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Larry died peacefully at home in Redding in the loving care of family members and a wonderful team (Larry's Girls) of caregivers. He is survived by his 5 children: Barry, Jan and Kevin Brink, Leslie Zauher and Mark Stephens. He will be missed and remembered not only by his family and friends, but also by those who played for him or with him and learned from him that the true value of sports are the lessons it teaches: discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship, humility, pride, and the pursuit of excellence.