News

Beloved Little League Coach Passes: Larry A. Cervantez

Larry A. Cervantez (66) - Heavy hearts are left behind with the passing of Larry A. Cervantez, who died peacefully with his loving family at his side on July 30, 2016, after a 2 1/2 year courageous battle with cancer.

Larry was born and raised in Madera, the son of Jose Maria and Petra Cervantez.He attended Madera schools graduating from Madera High School in 1969 and attended Fresno City College.
Soon after graduating high school he met the love of his life, Marge Gutierrez. They fell in love and were married in 1971.


He loved his family and friends and he never met a person he didn’t like. Larry had the “gift of gab” and made a positive impression on everyone he met.

Larry was an avid San Francisco Giants, Warriors and 49er fan. He had an extensive collection of San Francisco sports memorabilia and enjoyed sharing it with all who came to his home. He enjoyed going to games, especially Giants games.

He coached a variety of Madera youth sports including Pop Warner football, youth soccer, and Madera National Little League baseball. He was a former member of YMI. He played basketball and softball in the Madera City Recreation Leagues and for YMI.

Larry was employed Baltimore Air Coil for 20 years. He left BAC to become a licensed General Contractor in 1993, which he just recently retired from in 2015. He also got his Federal OSHA license and later taught Federal OSHA safety classes for West Hills Community College

Larry was proceeded in death by his parents, Jose Maria and Petra Cervantez, his brother, Alex Cervantez, sisters, Josephine Rodriguez and Mary Lou Marquez, and brother Pedro Cervantez.

He is survived by his wife Marge of 45 years, two daughters, Marina Cervantez and companion Ron Garcia of Cayucos, CA and Rhiana and son-in-law Steve Thornton of Madera, his three grandchildren, Maison, Christian, and Emma Alvarez all of Madera.

He is also survived by his brothers and sisters Carmen Rudometkin of Hubbard, Oregon, Emilio Cervantez of Madera, Richard Cervantez Sr. of Madera, Lydia Perez of Madera, Joe Cervantez of Vallejo, Gloria Cutshall of San Jose, Irene Gutierrez of Sanger and Anita Silva of Madera.

A Rosary service will be held on: Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 7:00P.M. at Jay Chapel Madera, CA

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated: on Friday, August 5, 2016, 9:00A.M at St. Joachim Catholic Church, Madera, CA

Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Madera, CA

Memorials may be made in memory of Larry Cervantez, Madera National Little League, PO Box 1176, Madera, CA 93639-1176
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Publishers Note:

To put it plain and simple, Larry was one of the finest men I have ever met. I looked up to him as a coach in the Madera National Little League and I know he was my friend. He always had a word of encouragement to my daughters on and off the field. I remember beating his team over and over my first year as a coach. Then at the end Larry had his team rocking as they went through the playoffs beating every team to win the league championship. Larry truly loved coaching these kids and he taught them more than baseball. I know I am going to miss this man that I looked up to and had the utmost respect for. I know he is sitting in the best skybox watching the kids of both Madera Little Leagues and of course the San Francisco Giants. God bless you Larry and thank you for being in my life.      Jack W Porter  BVN