At Oso Grande Elementary School, students start and end their school days with a bright smile and wave from the friendly neighborhood crossing guard, Larry Lanterman.
Lanterman has been a staple of the Ladera Ranch neighborhood, showing up every day to keep kids safe as they cross the street. But it is not just the job, which he does without compensation, that makes Lanterman so lovable; it is his commitment to spreading joy and encouragement to the students day after day, families say.
“Mr. Larry loves my kids and has such genuine friendliness to everyone he interacts with at his corner of the school,” said Melanie Currie, the parent of a student at Oso Grande. “He is more than just a crossing guard. He encourages, supports and simply brightens everybody’s days when they pass him.”
Now, after decades of service as a volunteer crossing guard, Lanterman had to make the tough decision to uproot himself at the age of 87 from Ladera Ranch to live with family in Palm Springs after the death of his wife, Kathy Lanterman, in September.
An Army veteran, Lanterman is facing his own medical challenges with very limited financial means, said Currie. He had a valve replacement surgery two years ago and is in and out of the hospital to deal with issues from that procedure and explore the option of a pacemaker, she said.
Lanterman’s only means to support himself are his current savings as well as delivering food through Uber Eats when he has the time, said Currie.
So the Oso Grande community is rallying around their crossing guard to make the transition to Palm Springs a bit easier.
On Tuesday, Oct. 17, in the midst of performing his crossing guard duties, Lanterman was greeted by children and parents holding signs with various encouraging messages — “We love Mr. Larry,” “Honk for Larry,” and “Mr. Larry is awesome!” — as well as the news a GoFundMe page had been set up by the Currie family.
“He has been a beacon of light in our community,…
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