This memorial website was created in memory of our beloved, Larry Cardozo, 64, born on December 18, 1951 and passed away on June 15, 2016. We will remember him forever.

In lieu of flowers please make all donations to the places below: one is in an effort to find a cure for cancer and the other is representative of a place that Larry held especially dear to his heart - the Channel Islands National Park.

Channel Islands Park Foundation

Cancer Research Institute

Larry was born in Chicago to Sara Jean and Dick Cardozo, inheriting from his parents a love of nature and of learning. These passions lasted a lifetime, sparked continual adventure and enlightenment, and were lovingly passed on to his own children, cementing the family legacy.    While earning his degree at the University of Illinois, Larry had a political awakening, made lifelong friends, and met Karen, with whom he quickly fell in love. The newlyweds headed west in the orange VW bus of family legend, with no specific destination in mind but sharing a California dream. 

Larry and Karen blossomed in the sunshine, and soon sprouted a family. In the decades that followed, Larry himself grew in beautifully unexpected ways. He wrote novels, fought to protect Ventura's green space, and played drums in the Ventura Klezmer Band. He became versed in widely diverse subjects like geology and meteorology, antique weaponry, Chinese cuisine, palm trees, the California missions and the history of the American West.    Larry also became intimately acquainted with many of California's abundant natural treasures: the Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite Valley, and the great Pacific Ocean. In retirement, Larry realized a dream by being accepted as a docent on the Channel Islands National Park whale-watching excursions.  

By example, Larry also taught his children, and so many others around him, the meaning of authenticity and humor. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was always generous with his love, affection, and care.  Larry is survived by his wife of 42 years, Karen Lewin Cardozo, and also by his parents, his oldest son Benjamin (his wife, Hadas, and children Ellie and Zoey) and his younger son Daniel (his wife, Katie). He also leaves behind his sister, Linda, her husband Al, and niece and nephew Stephanie (her husband David and their children Evelyn and Lillian), Stephen (his wife Sarah), brother-in-law Steve and Joan, and nieces Shoshana (her husband Adam, their child Danielle), and Samantha.   

A memorial service was held at 10:00 AM on Sunday, June 19th, at Temple Beth Torah, 7620 Foothill Road in Ventura.