Larry Michael; Ex-Marine, Limousine Driver

Longtime Oxnard resident Larry Michael died Saturday after a long illness. He was 51.

Born April 7, 1946, in Hamilton, Ohio, Michael served in combat with the Marines in Vietnam, his friend, Mark Huffman said.

Michael later worked for Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion, Huffman said. In 1987, he moved to Ventura County and began work as a limousine driver here and in Santa Barbara, Huffman said.

An avid collector of Southwestern art, Michael was a fixture at the Ventura College swap meet. He would spend hours looking for collectibles that he often turned around and gave to friends and family members as gifts, Huffman said.

“The most important things to him were the people in his life, and he liked to give gifts to people,” Huffman said.

Despite his severe illness, only a week before his death Michael again ventured to the swap meet to talk to friends and look for collectibles.

Michael is survived by his longtime friend, Huffman, of Oxnard; his sister, Shirley Slater, and brother, Ron Michael, of Los Angeles County. He is also survived by more than a dozen nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

A private celebration of Michael’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to AIDS Care, 73 N. Palm St., Ventura, CA 93001.

Arraignments were by Joseph Reardon Funeral Home of Ventura.

Ventura County obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. Obituaries are based on information provided by mortuaries.