Larry Joel Aronson

Larry Aronson — beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, colleague, coach, community servant, mentor, and friend — passed away peacefully at his home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina at the age of 83.

Family was always Larry’s #1 priority. He is survived by his beautiful wife Myra (his words, always), sons Brett & Adam, daughters in-law Kristen & Danielle, grandson Julian, and another grandchild on the way. He also leaves behind loving sisters Harriet Smith & Sheila Murphy, plus many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Larry was a larger-than-life presence who impacted countless more lives in many ways. He will always be remembered for his gregarious, outspoken personality, zest for life, sense of humor, and gentle, loving nature.

Larry was born into a loving home in Brooklyn, NY. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1952, where he became an Eagle Scout, played varsity football at Fairfax High School, and earned his undergraduate degree from USC. Larry then moved to Chicago where he worked his way through Northwestern Dental School. In the Army, he trained as a field medic and was honorably discharged.

During his time in LA, Larry was set up on a blind date with a UCLA student named Myra, who would become the love of his life. After dental school, Larry settled in the Bay Area. He and Myra wed in 1973, at a small ceremony in San Francisco. For the next decade, they enjoyed an unencumbered period of love, life, and travel that took them frequently to Mexico and throughout Europe. Travel was always Larry’s greatest luxury.

After several years in Greenbrae, Larry & Myra laid down roots in Novato. In 1982, they welcomed their first son, Brett, followed by a second son, Adam, in 1984. Eager to show their children the world, they resumed their adventures abroad as soon as Brett & Adam were “old enough to appreciate it.” Larry was a genius travel planner, and took tremendous pride in taking 6-8 weeks off every summer to explore the world with his family. In his later years, he and Myra discovered Africa, a destination that transformed them. He had a particularly special affection for elephants.

As a general dentist, what Larry loved most was working with people. Most of his dental staff stayed with him for decades and remained friends after he retired — a testament to the familial work environment he fostered. Larry later embarked upon a second career as a sleep apnea specialist. This newfound passion kept him busy until the age of 77, bringing new clinical challenges to conquer and patients to connect with.

Community service was always an important element of Larry’s life. In the late 1960s, he volunteered at the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic and San Francisco Suicide Prevention. Years later at the Novato Youth Center, he served as Board President from 2000-2004. He also coached his children in local youth soccer leagues and continued coaching after they stopped playing.

Larry led an active lifestyle, full of diverse hobbies and interests. He could be seen all over town and in the hills of Novato with his sweet Plott Hound Henrietta. Before “City Slickers” became a cult classic, Larry got into horseback riding, and joined two grueling cattle drives in Northern California & Nevada. He also loved fishing, bullfighting (as a spectator), and watching sports (namely the Trojans, 49ers, Giants and Warriors) with a critical eye.

He was an avid reader of history and also loved music, art, the ballet, good food, good wine, and hosting dinner parties. He had many long-standing friendships that he treasured deeply and nurtured through regular communication. Finally, he was a master practical joker, as many of his friends and colleagues can attest.

In 2020, Larry & Myra moved to North Carolina to be closer to their children. In late 2024, Larry was given the ultimate gift of becoming a grandfather. Nothing lit up Larry’s face like his beautiful grandson Julian. And in his final weeks, he beamed with pride knowing a second grandchild was on the way.

Larry’s family will host a celebration of life on October 4th at North Marin Community Services in Novato (680 Wilson Ave) from 2-5pm. Those who wish to celebrate his amazing life may join us to share memories and laughs!

To honor him, memorial donations may be made to North Marin Community Services (https://secure.qgiv.com/for/nmcs/).