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Mostly Cloudy Larry Elovich 5K Memorial Fun Run a success
Event honors the venerated political adviser, chamber president and attorney
More than 100 people came out last Saturday to honor the man remembered as “Mr. Long Beach” at the third annual Larry Elovich 5K Memorial Fun Run.
The event is hosted each year by the Larry Elovich Scholarship Fund in cooperation with the City of Long Beach. Elovich, an accomplished attorney who served as Long Beach Democratic Committee chairman and president of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, died on Sept. 21, 2012 at age 77. Each year the scholarship fund that bears his name honors two deserving college-bound seniors from Long Beach High School.
“We had a great turnout, it was a beautiful day,” said Elovich’s daughter, Lisa, one of the event’s organizers. “Last year it was a torrential downpour, but this was fabulous.” This year, the race raised $6,000 for the scholarship fund, Lisa said, and the organization will continue to raise money throughout the year.
Because the race was a fun run, Lisa said, times were not kept and some competitors jogged or walked the course. The important thing, she added, was that they honor her father’s memory by staying physically active.
“My dad was a big believer in running and living a healthy lifestyle,” she explained. “I know he would have been happy we were having people run in his honor.”
Although the race wasn’t timed, Dylan Palacio won the event — something Lisa said had a symbolic meaning. “It was really special that he won because my dad sponsored him for many years in soccer and wrestling. He would have been very happy that Dylan won.”
Elovich is remembered as a venerated political advisor who was able to reach out to Democrats and Republicans alike. Lisa attributes her father’s success at crossing party lines to his humor, integrity and charisma. He cared deeply for his neighbors in Long Beach and, as a former chamber of commerce president, the town mattered to him greatly.
“His main goal was to make sure that the City of Long Beach flourished,” Lisa said. “The community still remembers him. Everybody in Long Beach has a Larry Elovich story.”
