Larry A. Larobis

Larry A. Larobis lived a life built on routine, responsibility, and quiet devotion. He believed in showing up early, doing things properly, and caring for others in practical ways—often without hesitation. His love was expressed through consistency: through daily habits, steady presence, and an unwavering sense of duty to his family, his faith, and his community.

Born Laureto Apurado Larobis, Larry was shaped early by discipline and loss. He was the son of William S. Larobis, Sr. and Anunciacion Y. Apurado, whose death when Larry was only 23 years old left a profound mark on him.

Larry was raised in a rural farming community in Mindanao, where life followed the rhythm of daylight and the demands of the land. Mornings began before sunrise, and responsibility was never optional. As a boy, he helped tend animals on his family’s farm and willingly carried out chores without being asked. Among his eight siblings, Larry was often described as the quiet one: industrious, obedient, and dependable.

That discipline carried naturally into his studies. As the earliest riser in the household, Larry began each day underneath the dining room table, practicing math equations by candlelight long before the school day began. This work ethic paved the way to becoming the first class Valedictorian of Notre Dame of Magpet Diocesan School in 1974. He went on to attend the Cebu Institute of Technology on a scholarship, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1978. He immigrated to the U.S. and landed a job at Owens-Illinois, but he soon realized that while he valued the work, what truly fulfilled him was helping people.

That calling found its home when Larry joined Primerica, a financial services company, in October 1988. Drawing on his engineering background and aptitude with numbers, he dedicated himself to educating families about finances, protection, and long-term planning. Over the years, he built a respected career and rose to serve as a Regional Vice President, known not only for his expertise but also for his integrity and genuine concern for those he served across Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and California.

As Larry began building his life, he hoped he might find someone to build it with. During this season, he met Carmen, a newly graduated nurse who had recently arrived in the U.S. on an H-1 visa. He was smitten by her beauty and grace, but even more by her reserve, values, and poise. To him, she was the “Uptown Girl,” and true to his nature, he courted her patiently, never rushing what he believed was worth waiting for.

When Carmen returned to the Philippines for a vacation and a journey of rediscovery, Larry followed her path from Surigao to Maasin—repeatedly arriving at both stops just moments too late. Each time, the aunties with whom she stayed would gently tell him, “You just missed her.”

After missing her in Maasin, Larry learned she was heading back to Surigao and, knowing the next boat wouldn't leave until morning, realized he still had time to catch her. At the bus terminal, Larry revealed himself in the most unassuming way—disguising himself as a bus porter and offering to help carry her luggage. When she accepted and looked up, Carmen was speechless to realize it was Larry, his smile making clear that he had finally found her. From that simple moment, their life together was set in motion.

Together, they started a family, and Larry was present in the truest sense of the word—driving his children to school, cheerleading practices, and competitions, often across state lines, never missing what mattered. He believed that love was shown through reliability: arriving early, staying late, and always following through.

Larry’s discipline extended naturally from family life into faith. He anchored his days in prayer and daily Mass, approaching his Catholic spirituality with the same quiet consistency he brought to fatherhood. He believed prayer was not about reciting words, but about showing up each day with humility and trust.

He served others with the same devotion, offering himself as a Eucharistic Minister at his home parish, St. John Vianney in Colonia, and as a faithful member of the Intercessory Ministry of Bukás-Loób sa Diyós (BLD Newark), carrying the intentions of others with care and reverence.

His faith accompanied him everywhere—Contemporary Christian music always on the car radio, Catholic programming always on the TV, and a deepening love for Scripture. For Larry, faith was never separate from daily life; it was its rhythm.

He found joy in the ordinary: mowing the lawn in summer, snow-blowing in winter, and, in an age of quick texts and emails, still taking the time to write handwritten cards for every occasion. He never left the house without a hat on and never missed a Manny Pacquiao pay-per-view fight. His “dad jokes,” often clever phonetic wordplay blending American English and Bisaya, were delivered with a straight face and became a rite of passage for each daughter and son-in-law welcomed into the family. Family gatherings were marked by his cooking, especially his lechon with brown rice, a recipe passed down from his father.

In his final season of life, Larry’s greatest joy was time spent with his youngest grandson, Jack, just two years old. “Woh-Woh,” Jack’s sweet attempt at Lolo (the Bisaya term for grandfather) was the title Larry embraced with pride, and they shared nearly every day together, filling a short span of time with a lifetime of love.

Their days were shaped by simple rituals: watering flowers in the backyard, watching Ms. Rachel and Blippi, wagon rides through the neighborhood, sharing meals as they transitioned from baby food to solids, and napping side by side. And of course, in between those moments, he was already teaching Jack the foundations of faith, gently guiding him toward his first “Amen.”

Larry is survived by his wife Carmen; stepmother Rosita; his siblings Wilfredo, Gloria, Robert, Wilma, Annie, and Charles; his children Loreto, Angela, and Cristina; his children-in-law Melanie Cupat, Alpha M. Agujar, Justin T. Loo, and Gerard O. Rangel; and his grandchildren Alexa, Arsenio, Jaime McKenzie, James, and Jack. He is also lovingly remembered by his many nieces and nephews, whom he supported as a devoted uncle and godfather.

He is reunited in eternal rest with his parents; his parents-in-law, Alejandro D. Entuna and Florencia G. Virtudazo; his brother William Jr.; his lifelong friend Mario D. Guzman; and his beloved sister Yolanda, whose presence remained close to his heart throughout his life.

In lieu of flowers and food, a memorial fund established in Larry’s name would be the most helpful way to support the Larobis family during this difficult time. Any contribution would be sincerely appreciated. Memorial Fund: Support for the Larobis Family in Memory of Larry