Brandon Twp.- Larry Roberts loved his job.
The public safety aide for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Brandon substation for nearly eight years, Roberts showed his dedication to the community and his co-workers, whom he called ‘brothers,? working even as he battled cancer this past year.
Larry died Feb. 2. He was 68.
‘This community means so much to me,? Larry said last month. ‘I hope I have done my job well.?
He needn’t have been concerned.
‘I never met anyone who didn’t like him,? said OCSO Sgt. Tim McIsaac. ‘He will be hugely missed… Larry was the number one public safety aide in the county, in my eyes.?
McIsaac remembers when he and former Township Supervisor Pat Alexander were interviewing candidates for the newly created public safety aide position eight years ago. McIsaac had Larry picked as the #2 candidate because he felt the former EDS employee was overqualified and had such a strong computer background that he would be considered a ‘geek? by the deputies. But Alexander picked Larry as #1, and after recommendations from a deputy and several of his former co-workers, Larry was hired.
‘I should have been shot for considering him #2,? McIsaac says now. ‘Larry had the best listening skills I’d seen in a person before, and he would talk to people for an hour. He was compassionate and intelligent? book and life smart. He was a wonderful man. I got to say goodbye to him last week and I thanked him. He was in hospice and, in typical Larry fashion, he apologized for not being able to come in and perform his duties at the substation.?
Larry’s wife of 46 years, Rebecca, knew of her husband’s compassion, but was happy to know it had found another place.
‘He just loved that job,? she said. ‘It was second only to his family. He loved helping people. There was something in Larry that really drove him to think of other people before himself… He left that legacy of compassion and caring and took care of his family and never faltered. He was the love of my life.?
Larry was born in Attleboro, Mass. on Nov. 6, 1939, the son of Irene and Louis Roberts. He met Rebecca (Emlinger) when he was in Puerto Rico serving in the Air Force and she was visiting her sister. They married on June 10, 1961 and had two sons, Michael and Adam. Larry worked for General Motors for 20 years as a systems analyst, and then worked for EDS as a systems analyst until he retired in 1999. The following year, he was hired as the Brandon substation’s public safety aide and soon went to the police reserve academy, seeing it as a way to do his job better. He graduated in 2001 and was a reserve deputy/sergeant, working football and basketball games and making more friends in the community.
‘I knew he would do well and he was a huge asset to the reserves,? says McIsaac. ‘He worked all the games and people loved to talk to him.?
McIsaac laughs when he remembers all the times Larry would be on the phone talking to someone at the substation when Rebecca would call. McIsaac would put her on what he called ‘eternal hold? as Larry would continue to listen to whoever he was on the phone with and forget Rebecca was waiting.
Larry’s passions included photography, gadgets, model cars, his Harley motorcycle, camping in his RV, and travel. He enjoyed going to the Holly Recreation Area, but his two favorite trips were to New Zealand and a motorcycle trip out west he took with his sons.
Rebecca remembers fondly also, the poetry production, ‘Still Life with Conversation,? that Larry assisted her with in 1991.
‘It was one of his shining moments,? she said. ‘Anything he takes on, he does with his heart.?
So it was with his job at the substation. Larry was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, but with surgery and chemotherapy, seemed to have beat it and barely missed work. The cancer reappeared in 2006 and still, he worked as he was treated throughout 2007 and even into last month.
‘He was professional, hardworking and thorough,? said Brandon Deputy Dave Rheaume. ‘He was well-educated, well-traveled and well-mannered. He was gracious and approachable. He always had that twinkle in his eye, that look that there was a little more that he wasn’t letting on… He died with tremendous courage. I hope that someday I can emulate him. He was a terrific guy and it was a pleasure to know him.?
‘He was the fabric that held this substation together,? said Sgt. Pete Burkett. ‘We’ll never be able to replace him.?
Larry is survived by his wife, Rebecca; son Michael of Austin, Tx., son Adam and his wife, Serena, and a grandson, Samuel Lawrence of Red Bank, NJ; a brother, Leslie (Marilyn) of Attleboro, Mass.; and sister Kay (Tom) Kenngott of Rosamond, Calif. Also survived by many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Irene; and a brother, Donald.
A memorial service was planned for 11 a.m. today at the Seymour Lake United Methodist Church, 3050 Sashabaw Road. Donations may be made to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Children’s Benevolent Fund; the Seymour Lake United Methodist Church; and Beaumont’s Hospice Program.