Long Beach loses a leader

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His daughters remembered him not only as a respected attorney and political figure, but also as a doting husband and father who enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. “… While he was busy building his legacy in the community by working tirelessly,” Lisa said, “he still somehow had the time and energy to be the best father that anyone could ever ask for.”

An illustrious career

Elovich was a senior partner at Elovich & Adell in Long Beach, a trial lawyer specializing in personal injury and medical malpractice cases.

“I think what you saw in Larry was someone who worked zealously on behalf of his clients and did what was best for them,” said Corey Klein, president of the Long Beach Lawyers Association, of which Elovich was a past president. “He took a caring approach to helping people, and … rather than being an aggressive shark, he knew how to reach a fair resolution.”

Or, as Rich Herscher wrote on the Herald’s Facebook page, “If he took your case, you won.”

Elovich was a 1953 graduate of Lafayette High School in Brooklyn, where he played baseball with the Brooklyn Tomahawks, along with future Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax.

He began working for the City of Long Beach in the early 1950s. He graduated from Long Island University in 1957 and became a phys. ed. teacher at New York City’s Harran High School. While attending law school at night, Elovich was a special patrolman for the Long Beach Police Department for two years, and also a volunteer firefighter.

DiNapoli recalled how Elovich met his wife when he was working as a patrolman, and threatened the “cute redheaded girl” with a ticket if he couldn’t get her phone number.

“Helen, I can’t believe you fell for that cheesy line,” DiNapoli said to laughs. “But boy, thank god you did. With all his public accolades and titles … he was a family man.”

Shortly after graduating from Brooklyn Law School in 1961, Elovich began practicing in Long Beach. He bought his first home in 1963 on Kerrigan Street, across the street from Arthur J. Kremer, who, two years later, was elected to the State Assembly. Their annual summer block party included political dignitaries from around the state, including Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

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