Campus superintendent's life celebrated by family, co-workers

By Chris Ledermuller
Daily Forty-Niner

Keeping a campus as large as Cal State Long Beach running is a mammoth task, but Larry Elliott was always up to the challenge.

Described by colleagues as an easy-going yet hard-working man with a bright sense of humor, Elliott, 61, died from a malignant brain tumor July 3.

"I knew him for more than 20 years," said Scott Charmack, associate vice president of Physical Planning & Facilities Management.

Elliott first came to CSULB in October 1977 as a plumber, bringing with him 20 years of experience from the private sector, according to Robert Quirk, director of Facilities Management.

The longer he worked here, Elliott kept taking on more responsibilities.

CSULB bids farewell to
Larry Elliott; employee since 1977

He was promoted to plumbing supervisor, and in 1988, he was promoted to Superintendent of Building Trades.

"He oversaw the day-to-day operations of our painters, locksmiths, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, labor crew and movers," said Quirk, adding that Elliott supervised as many as 50 people.

His last job was the campus fleet administrator, and made sure all of the vehicles used by the university met state requirements.

"He had a lot of institutional knowledge," said Charmack. "Larry was a good, steady worker. He was a real pleasure to work with."

Elliott also had a great sense of humor and still kept a positive attitude in spite of holding down very difficult duties.

"I remember one of his favorite quotes was when I asked him, 'Hi, Larry. How are you doing?' " said Charmack. "He said, 'Still vertical.' "

Quirk recalls Elliott bringing in humorous mementos.

"Larry was always bringing in clippings of comics in relation to the workplace or campus, something that looks at the lighter side of things," he said. "He didn't let the day-to-day things wear him down."

Elliott worked hard throughout his career at CSULB, and felt fine until a few months before his death.

"He said he was feeling strange in February," recalled Quirk, "and then the tumor progressed, just getting worse and worse."

Elliott is survived by his wife, Tine, two children, Julie and Karin, and two grandchildren.