[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 144 (Tuesday, November 13, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING COUNCIL MEMBER LARRY VAN NOSTRAN

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2012

  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, it is with great 
sorrow that I announce the passing of Larry Van Nostran, who served the 
city of Lakewood for 37 years.
  Larry was first elected to the Lakewood City Council in 1975. He is 
the longest serving council member in the city's history, and was 
serving his tenth term as a council member when he passed away Friday, 
November 9. During his 37 years on the council, he served as the Mayor 
of the city nine times.
  Among Larry's most notable achievements was the founding of the 
Lakewood Youth Sports Hall of Fame in 1981 and its continued success 
for the past 30 years. The Hall of Fame has honored thousands of 
Lakewood youth during that time, and has helped promote a vigorous 
sports and recreational culture in the city. This strong tradition was 
nationally recognized by Sports Illustrated magazine, who named 
Lakewood ``Sportstown USA'' in 2004.
  Larry was instrumental in helping create a high quality of life in 
Lakewood's neighborhoods and finding solutions to keep Lakewood's crime 
rate low. Larry began his service in Lakewood city government as a 
member of the Traffic and Safety Commission, and was a longtime member 
of the Public Safety Committee as a member of the city council. He 
firmly believed that there's not a more important value than keeping a 
community safe. He was a strong supporter of the Lakewood Award of 
Valor event, where public safety personnel, volunteers and residents 
are honored annually for their dedication, hard work and courage.
  Larry was prominent in the development and expansion of senior 
services, which were scant before he was elected to the city council. 
Larry saw the initiation of Lakewood's DASH senior transit system and 
exercise and fitness programs at the city's two senior centers. He was 
also a champion of growing Lakewood's business and commercial base, 
which included modernizing the second largest shopping center in Los 
Angeles County, Lakewood Center Mall.
  Larry was born in Seville, Ohio in 1933 and moved to Lakewood in 
1958, just four years after the city was incorporated. He was active in 
Lakewood civic life for over 40 years, including membership in the Elks 
Club, Jaycees, Kiwanis Club, Lakewood Pan American Association, and 
Masonic Lodge & Scottish Rite.
  As you are aware Mr. Speaker, many of our colleagues in city 
government have a fundamental impact on the lives of our constituents 
and they rarely get the recognition that they deserve. The city of 
Lakewood will miss Larry, and I stand with many in our community in 
sending my thoughts and prayers to his family. Thank you Mr. Speaker, I 
ask for a moment of silence for Larry Van Nostran, a true public 
servant, and I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________