The Ride Family has lost one of its most senior PALS. On June 24th, Larry Lefkowitz of Jericho Long Island ended his 6 year struggle with ALS. Larry leaves his loving family of wife Florence, and daughters Melissa and Julie.

Shortly after diagnosis in 1999, Larry’s pulmonary functions failed dramatically. Unexpectedly, he went into pulmonary failure and fell unconscious. Since Larry was in an early stage of the disease, he did not leave any health directives. Faced with this unanticipated loss of her husband, Florence elected to have her husband traeched.

When Larry finally awoke, he faced his new world with courage and dignity. Larry’s first home was at Gurwin, a extended care facility in Suffolk County on Long Island. There Larry joined a small group of vent patients. He championed numerous issues to improve quality of life for everyone. He successfully lobbied to bring in cable TV to unit rooms thus giving PALS a full range of TV viewing. He pioneered the concept of daytrips. With Florence as his advocate, they surmounted numerous obstacles and finally got to leave the facility for trips.

It was on his first trip that he joined Ride For Life as we toured the Senator Jacob Javits exhibit at Stony Brook University. Next, the dynamic duo pressed on to Yankee Stadium. Larry joined me at a home plate appearance in 2001. Of all the many loves of Larry, baseball was probably his most enduring. The next year Larry had weakened and could not join Ride 2002. During a segment of the trip, PALS and CALS stopped at his healthcare facility and brought the Ride to him!

Recently, Larry fought increasingly resistant infections. One bought led him to a lengthy hospital stay. Under Medicaid rules, Larry lost his bed at Gurwin and was moved to a facility in Queens, Silvercrest. Florence and Larry both felt the vent unit tried to deliver good care under their difficult circumstances. However, Larry continued to loose function.

Eventually, Larry approached the “locked in” stage. He was in pain with bed sores that defied treatment. He bravely hung in to witness his eldest daughter graduate college as a Physician’s Assistant and his younger daughter complete high school.

After completing his job and his family raised, Larry made the decision to move on. With his family at his side, he peacefully passed away in the morning of Friday. As his Rabbi suggested, before the Jewish Sabbath, the Gates of Heaven open. I am certain Larry joyfully strolled through them.

Chris Pendergast, PALS
Founder, Ride for Life