Larry Freeman M.D.

On Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, Larry Freeman M.D., died peacefully in his bed. He was born in October 1937 to Alexander and Elena Freeman in Chicago.

Larry attended St. Mary's College in Winona, Minn., and Marquette Medical School in Milwaukee, Wis. While completing his internship at Kansas University in Kansas City, Kan., he met a cute student nurse, Judy Atkins. They fell in love and were married in 1964.

They moved to Red Stone Arsenal, Ala., where Larry served his first year as a captain in the U.S. Army. His second year was spent doctoring in a MASH unit in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne.

After he returned home, Larry, Judy, and their first baby, Lisa, lived in Milwaukee for Larry's four year residency. While in Milwaukee, their second and third babies, John and Julie, were born.

The family then moved to Houston, Texas, for Larry to do a one year fellowship in cancer research at the MD Anderson Cancer Institute. In 1970, the family came to San Luis Obispo, where Larry began his 25 year surgery practice at San Luis Medical Clinic.

In 1975, their fourth child, Michael, arrived. During that time, Larry also served as Chief of Staff at Sierra Vista Hospital as well as team doctor for the Cal Poly and San Luis High School football teams.

Larry's interests were broad and varied. He loved to learn and to teach. In his and Judy's early dating, she followed him on rounds because he did such a wonderful job explaining everything.

His children benefited from this skill as well. Larry involved himself in all of their different activities, from 4-H to ballet, and he was a founding member of the board of the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo.

Larry hit tennis balls with his boys and traveled with his girls. His creativity in the kitchen was boundless ... banana won tons? Every year, the whole family went skiing.

Larry possessed an endless wealth of knowledge from his avid reading that he pulled from, often to deliver lightning quick puns or share some rare tidbit of information in conversation.

When his garden would sprout, he'd run into the kitchen and exclaim to Judy, "I'm a father!" Many a weekend you could find him playing poker with their friends, Jim and Liz Renzi.

He loved music, language and medicine. But most of all he loved his dear wife of 44 years and his four children, unconditionally.

Larry is survived by his wife, Judy; their children Lisa (Jacques) Deyo, John (Joyce) Freeman, Julie (Charles) Overy and Michael (Eva Garcia) Freeman; grandchildren Isabel Deyo, Alex, Stephanie and Katherine Freeman, Andrew and Lisa Overy, Diego and Dante Freeman; and sister, Norma (Bert) Mueller.

A special thank you to Deborah Carroll, Larry's caregiver, who cared for him with such loving kindness, generosity and professionalism.

There will be a memorial vigil to share your stories about Larry at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, at Nativity of our Lady Catholic Church, 221 Daly in San Luis Obispo.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at the Old Mission in San Luis Obispo.

In lieu of flowers, please hug your children and tell your spouse that you love them. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society and Hospice Partners of the Central Coast.