Leonard "Larry" Raimi

Age 95, of California, formerly of Michigan, died May 20, 2021.

Beloved husband for 65 years to the late Celia Raimi. Devoted father of Andrea (Dr. Stuart) Rubin, Dr. Ivan Raimi, Sam (Gillian) Raimi, Ted Raimi and the late Sander Raimi.

Treasured Zaydy (no matter how you spell it) to Dr. Sander (Dr. Kim) Rubin, Rose Rubin, Max, Sophie, Lorne, Henry, Emma, Dashiell and Oliver Raimi.

Cherished brother to the late Eddie (late Bess) Raimi, late Irving (late Rae) Raimi, late Sally (late Morris) Brose, late Anne (late Max) Elgot and the late Eve (late Morris) Kane.

Graveside Service: 10:00 AM Tuesday 5/25/2021 at CLOVER HILL PARK CEMETERY. Arrangements entrusted to HEBREW MEMORIAL CHAPEL (248) 543-1622. www.hebrewmemorial.org

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Detroit News & Detroit Free Press from May 21 to May 23, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Leonard Raimi

7 Entries

Eva-Marie Fredric

May 15, 2023

Eva-Marie Fredric

May 15, 2023

Eva-Marie Fredric

May 15, 2023

Eva-Marie Fredric

May 15, 2023

I miss my dear friend and confidant but will never forget time spent whether by phone or in person. His laughter and attentive nature. Larry, your family must still miss you terribly - I know you enriched my life as much as you told me that I enriched yours. I hope the pirate still brings Halloween joy and the seasonal gifts you loved being surrounded by have brought solace. The birdhouse outside of your guesthouse looked superb. I wish you were still here to talk to. What never ceased to amaze me was the thought and consideration you put into making decisions. You'd fight over a wheelchair and then go out and buy that travel one on sale and use it to be mobile yet stun by the strength you built up with physical therapy. Luis and you were one of the most fun duos and I'll never forget when he finally was hired. What a wonderful addition to the team that helped keep you going and I've never seen anyone heal from knee surgeries as fast I did you - no complaints. A remarkable man you were and how fortunate your family was to have you along with anyone else who came your way.

Eva-Marie Fredric

May 15, 2022

On this first anniversary the pain of losing a very dear friend never leaves and I know the pain of loss in family - so my thoughts are with Larry's so much this day.

Your father, grandfather added so much to my life and we were the best of friends, the type that comes along rarely in life. What a sense of humour, wit, intelligence, love of opera (sometimes other music), not one to not give his opinion or tell really bad jokes that were so bad one couldn't stop laughing but he'd point out if I told one and laughed what bad form it was to laugh at one's own joke. A very human and remarkable being that brought light to my life, gave me hope again, a little more faith in the human race as we spoke often about politics, his love of certain presidents' and his foreboding... "I fear we're in trouble now..."

He loved his family dearly, hated repeating himself but I loved it - because Larry listened and with that raucous laugh was always grateful for friendship, loved surprises and gifting as much as receiving gifts -he claimed he didn't. Sometimes as a joke I'd let a week or two pass and he'd break down with: "Evie, I haven't gotten any of my favorite cookies lately...."

I miss our chats, emails and mostly in person adventures togher or with his nurse/family, Luis. In his last few years he surprised me by how committed he became to physical therapy. At first he poo-pooed me then I showed him RBG on his TV and he suddenly had a menagery of hired helpers. He went from falls to rising up from a seated position in restaurants without the aid of anyone. His strength and confidence grew. I was told by Luis he was even climbing stairs before his death and it was something he always wanted to do again. Be free to move.

What a joy he was (not without the sides we all possess that aren't perfect)... I miss you madly Larry, always will but I know so many feel the same way and I send my condolences to Sam, Ivan and the five grandkids that I met while living at Sam's. How fortuanate you all were to have one another and I thank you for loaning him to me for over four years. We had many, many adventures he thought he couldn't do and then he took others on them - which made me so proud of him.

It's not the age of a friend that matters, it's the intimacy of trust and caring that make it strong and meaningful but I think that speaks to any relationship. I loved you much, my sweet friend and miss you so, but you left footprints in my heart that will last forever and I thank you for that. Now, he would say, "Oh Evie, shut up... you're embarassing me." And my response would be with a smile, "Yeah, so?" Then he'd laugh and say, "I've neverr met anyone like you." Me either, sweet man, me either.

Eva-Marie Fredric

June 17, 2021

I miss my sweet friend, confidante and as Larry would say, "Someone to gossip with!" Our times together were filled with adventures of finding the next best restaurant until we found our favorites. I talked him into venturing to Santa Barbara with his trusty nurse/assistant/good friend, Luis at the wheel and he told me he had returned again. The same guy who told me he had seen it all and didn't need to go there or to the theatre would go to the theatre, a jazz club, see unknown roads to him with me driving.

The years apart don't separate deep friendships especially when dealing with a guy as funny and smart as him. I had visited him through several minor surgeries over the years but the last few times I saw him I was confused as to why he wasn't going home and while on the way there again I got word that he was gone. I've hesitated to write because my heart has hurt so much and also felt such elation at our friendship.

Some of Larry's lines to me - and he had many - were:

“Your visit was an absolute reaffirmation of the depth and intensity of our friendship. It mean a lot to me.”

“Forgot to thank you for the chocolate it’s helping to maintain my dwindling sanity.”

Larry: “Calm down. Are we having a bad hair day?”
Me: “No, I have hair.”

That robust laugh, sharing conversations on books, music, the arts and more along with his usual jokes and spats (only the best of friends disagree and then make up) I will miss for the rest of my days. After we met and had our first lunch he would always gleefully say, "Evie you're the best thing that has happened to me since I came to LA!"

He was of a generation who gave and was surprised at how many gifts he got in return. His favorite? A pocket knife and the usual holiday 3lb. cookies with candies and games I would make for him to share with the family. Four years of Larry? Is a lifetime. I wish we had had more time, with Covid we only met a few times outdoors for lunches, dinners were out but he got out to see Canadian Geese and we never really cared about the food - although if not good, he was the first to complain which made me laugh.

He listened, a lost art form in itself and even went to Atlantic Aviation Pilot Terminal to see my then 17 year-old's homage to the Indiana Jones Series. Dylan Bocanegra joined us with his girlfriend several times and they adored Larry. He loved his grandkids and I met more than a few and had meals - they helped keep him young whether it was by phone or popping into his pad in his son Sam's backyard.

Family was important to him and we shared much about our lives and with his having been so long, not long enough, I always took his suggestions seriously. He was funnier than many thought and look decades younger than his 95 years.

He once told me, "If I was in my 70's still? I'd take you around the world!" You did by the company we shared and so many talks.

When he didn't want to bother doing physical therapy I pointed at his TV screen at RBG and said look at her?! Oh, he got strong fast and PT became a huge part of his life. Luis told me he could walk up and downstairs with in his little house. He hadn't told me but he had always said he wanted to have dinner at my apartment but the stairs prevented him from doing so. I think Luis was right, it was just his confidence and I wish I had known he had been working on that because he inspired so many with his ability to bounce back from partial knee surgery, better than my younger friends.

When I first met Larry he was still relatively newly widowed, he was surprised I had been a widow since my son was 4 months old. We had much in common and so many differences that it was always interesting to have talks with Larry. I have many emails and he had many cards I wrote him.

I miss you dearest Larry with ML (much love) as an imprint on my soul. His favorite sign I gifted him with? "I'm kind of a big deal." He loved that and howled along with his talking pirate for Halloween and more. Oh what surprises and fun we had together. He'd tell me not to buy him anything then ask me to pick up his favorite cookies if I hadn't in a while. He loved being spoiled too and the gift of knowing Larry is one that I will always treasure.

Forgive the length, there are so many memories over the 4 years we were close and I haven't been able to sit down without crying to write some down. In time I will do a piece/profile of him on my site because he would LOVE it.

Larry? You were the best thing that happened to me in many, many moons with your understanding, laughter and care. "Leave a light on for me."

David Brose

May 23, 2021

I was saddened to learn of my Uncle Larry's death, and I send sincere sympathy to his children, several of whom I was able to meet after long absence when Barbara and I lived in West Bloomfield from 2004 - 2008. Larry was my mother's brother most involved with our family (they were the closest in age) and at her urging, Larry gave me a lot of avuncular time and advice, much of which I was unable to appreciate until decades later. His passing marks a generation's end.
David Brose

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