Longtime Fair Havenite Larry Curchin’s loved ones summed up the sentiment of his passing on April 10 by ending his obituary with a thought to remember him by: “When you see a motorcycle go by one day, with the rider loving every minute of it, you will still know that Larry’s wonderful, passionate spirit lives on.”

“We love you Larry! RIP,” a handmade sign at Boxwood Gardens, where he worked in the Fair Haven community in which he grew up, said upon his death.

The 59-year-old who came home to Fair Haven six years ago to care for his father, Ken, until his death at 100 had fought a “brief and valiant fight against lung cancer,” his obituary said. Caring for his father so that he could stay in his own home until the end of his life earned Larry “his spot in heaven for the selfless care and companionship he supplied him,” Larry’s loved ones added.

And now that Larry, his beloved dog Louie and his father have passed, the family has chosen to memorialize Larry in a way that symbolizes his love of home, his family and the places he loved.

 

“We will celebrate brother Larry’s life on 5/5 in New Jersey,” Larry’s brother Ken said in a message on Facebook. “His many friends and family will be there …” at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank, NJ from 4 to 7 p.m. The final hour of the service will be a time for sharing stories and thoughts about Larry’s life.

“His ashes (along with his beloved dog, Louie) will be spread in our family’s back yard, Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright, the veteran’s cemetery where mom and dad are buried and Hilton Head (South Carolina, where he spent many of his adult years),” Ken added.

From his obituary … 

Born in Long Branch, Larry was the beloved son of Kenneth and Thelma ( Long) Curchin. Larry attended schools in both Fair Haven and Rumson.

He grew up in Fair Haven. As an adult, he and Marie Malone relocated to Hilton Head, SC where they later married and divorced. They were able to reconnect as friends in the final months of his life which brought him great peace.

Eventually Larry met Alicia Fry with whom he shared many years of love and friendship. Even when family demands kept them apart, they were able to connect each night  by phone up until his final days.

Larry had many jobs in his life, including running his own business in Hilton Head called Final Vinyl.” When living back in NJ, he worked at Boxwood Gardens in Fair Haven until becoming ill. These co-workers were a wonderful, supportive family and will forever be appreciated.

Survivors also include Larry’s siblings and their spouses: Judith and Richard Preston of Chevy Chase, MD; Kenneth and Claudia Curchin of Newton, MA; Dr. Thomas Curchin and Sarah Kinter of East Montpelier, VT; and Drs. Linda and Charles Montgomery of Denver, CO. He had many nieces and nephews who loved him. His list of friends and cousins who cared deeply for him is longer than space allows. Their efforts to see him and say goodbye were truly heroic.

Larry is also survived by his beloved Harley and very classy 1970 Triumph motorcycle.

Larry was predeceased by his parents, and his faithful dog Louie. We know a great reunion is happening at this time.

RIP, Larry. You are remembered.