Larry R. Antila, Jr.

July 21, 1946 – May 26, 2021

Larry was always doing or making — sketching an idea on a piece of paper, then turning it into something with utility and purpose. He was a self-educated, walking encyclopedia of how to create and fix things. He cultivated friendships everywhere, always respecting knowledge and expertise. And he loved nothing more than to help friends, family, or co-workers to fix the ostensibly unfixable.

Larry restored classic motorcycles and cars, and built everything from bicycles to cabinetry. He knew every model of every car made in the last half of the last century. Larry loved baseball and played competitive softball well into his 60s. When most people reclined in their lounge chairs, resting their knees, Larry ran down the first base line trying to beat out an infield hit.

He worked at the Exploratorium for 40 years, most of them as graphics manager. A sign above his desk read “Checkpoint Larry,” and it was there that coworkers found assistance, direction, and, more often than not, a shared laugh. He was calming, nurturing, and encouraging — finding solutions to every problem. He was both creative and supremely practical. Born in Houghton-Hancock, Michigan, Larry Ralph Antila, Jr., was the oldest child of Irma Romero and Larry A. Antila. He grew up in Detroit, attended the prestigious Cass Tech High School, and earned a degree in industrial design from Michigan State University. He headed west in 1974, with a stint at Lockheed in Tucson before making his way to San Francisco.

For 20 years, Larry dealt with cancer the way he lived the rest of his life — with purpose, courage, grace, and optimism, and without self-pity or anger. Thanks to UCSF Cancer Center nurses and docs; hospice nurses Lena and Thalia; special thanks to Kevin Osbourne, Joni Venticinque, Ben and Eileen Kutnick, Chase MacLennan and Maggie Huang, the Pork Store Lunch Club, Explo family, Gauses, Frasers, Karlsons, MSU Six Pak.

Larry is survived by his wife of 30 years, Esther Kutnick; stepson Chase MacLennan (Maggie Huang); grandchildren Chase Jr. and Kaylee; brother Nathan Antila (Susan Levin); nieces Ariel Qi and Mira Paz; and was predeceased by his parents and sister Karen Antila. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.