Larry Cruz

October 17, 1950 - December 3, 2023

Our beloved Larry Cruz, a San Francisco native, dedicated public servant, jazz singer, and former president of the board of the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, passed away peacefully on December 3, 2023 surrounded by family and friends.

Larry lived a full and fabulous life of 73 years. He was raised in the City and graduated from Archbishop Riordan High School in 1968. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Berkeley, a master’s of social work from San Francisco State University, and a master’s of public administration from Golden Gate University.

His professional career was dedicated to serving San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents. He worked closely with transient youth while the Director of Hospitality House in the Tenderloin; he served as the Director of the City and County’s public Health Center #2; and he was appointed as Mayor Frank Jordan’s Director of Homelessness Services.

Larry was also among the wave of gay men in San Francisco diagnosed with HIV-AIDs in the late 1980s. It was at an HIV-support group meeting where he met the love of his life, David Bernard, who he lived with in Bernal Heights through the mid-2000s. Larry and David led a loving life together, traveling the world and volunteering for numerous community organizations, including at the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center. Despite his diagnosis, Larry was particularly proud to have completed a marathon at the age of 51.

After David passed away in 2005, Larry moved to Berkeley where he dove into one of his true passions – singing and performing. He was a member of the SF Gay Men’s Chorus for five years and performed solo jazz shows throughout the Bay Area. He continued his international travels and frequently visited his home in Santa Fe.

Larry owned a quick wit, a devilish sense of humor and a signature cackle-laugh that brought joy to so many. He loved films, read voraciously, and was up on current events – which made him a wonderful conversationalist and a fantastic dinner guest. He was an inspirational figure to so many friends, family, loved ones, and cousins across California, Colorado, and regions beyond.

In his final year, as his health deteriorated and left him in continual pain, Larry said he was grateful for the passage of the California End of Life Option Act, a law under constant legal challenge. He said he wanted more people to know about their options and for fewer people to suffer.

To honor Larry Cruz, donations can be made to Living Jazz in Oakland, a non-profit dedicated to passing along the tradition of jazz.