At Oso Grande Elementary School, students start and end their school days with a bright smile and wave from the friendly neighborhood crossing guard, Larry Lanterman.
Lanterman has been a staple of the Ladera Ranch neighborhood, showing up every day to keep kids safe as they cross the street. But it is not just the job, which he does without compensation, that makes Lanterman so lovable; it is his commitment to spreading joy and encouragement to the students day after day, families say.
“Mr. Larry loves my kids and has such genuine friendliness to everyone he interacts with at his corner of the school,” said Melanie Currie, the parent of a student at Oso Grande. “He is more than just a crossing guard. He encourages, supports and simply brightens everybody’s days when they pass him.”
Oso Grande Elementary student Kate Currie, 5, hold up a sign to encourage drivers to honk as a group of parents and students surprised crossing guard Larry Lanterman on his last day of work in Ladera Ranch on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. The community rallied to support Lanterman, a recently widowed 87-year old Army veteran, with a fundraising page to help him to raise money as his only means of income currently is delivering for UberEats. Lanterman announced that he might be at the crosswalk for another 3-weeks since his planned move to Palm Springs was delayed. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Colin Currie, 8, hugs crossing guard Larry Lanterman at the crosswalk at Oso Grande Elementary School after Lanterman was surprised by parents and students on his last day in Ladera Ranch on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. The community rallied to support Lanterman with a fundraising page to help him raise money as his only means of income currently is delivering for UberEats. Lanterman announced that he might be at the crosswalk for another 3-weeks since his planned move to Palm Springs was delayed. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Parents and students wait at the crosswalk near Oso Grande Elementary School to surprise crossing guard Larry Lanterman on his last day on the job in Ladera Ranch on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. The community rallied to support Lanterman, a recently widowed 87-year old Army veteran, with a fundraising page to help him to raise money for his move to Palm Springs and to support him as his only means of income currently is delivering for UberEats. Lanterman announced that he might be at the crosswalk for another 3-weeks since his planned move to Palm Springs was delayed. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Larry Lanterman, a recently widowed 87-year old crossing guard at Oso Grande Elementary School helps parents and children cross the street in Ladera Ranch on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. On his last day of work a group of parents and students surprised Lanterman at the crosswalk with signs of support and a fund raising page to help him to raise money as his only means of income currently is UberEats. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Larry Lanterman, an Army veteran and a recently widowed 87-year old crossing guard at Oso Grande Elementary School laughs as he is greeted by parents and students at the crosswalk on his last day on the job in Ladera Ranch on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. The community rallied to support Lanterman with a fundraising page to help him to raise money as his only means of income currently is UberEats. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Larry Lanterman, right, a recently widowed 87-year old crossing guard at Oso Grande Elementary School speaks with parents after they surprised him on his last day with signs of support and a fund raising page on his last day on the jbo in Ladera Ranch on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. The community rallied to support Lanterman, who is moving to Palm Springs, and his only means of income currently is UberEats. Lanterman announced that he might be at the crosswalk for another 3-weeks since his planned move to Palm Springs was delayed. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Parents and students wait at the crosswalk near Oso Grande Elementary School to surprise crossing guard Larry Lanterman on his last day on the job in Ladera Ranch on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. The community rallied to support Lanterman, a recently widowed 87-year old Army veteran, with a fundraising page to help him to raise money since his his only means of income currently is delivering for UberEats. Lanterman announced that he might be at the crosswalk for another 3-weeks since his planned move to Palm Springs was delayed. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Larry Lanterman, a recently widowed 87-year old crossing guard at Oso Grande Elementary School helps children cross the street in Ladera Ranch on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. On his last day a group of parents and students surprised Lanterman at the cross walk with signs of support and a fund raising page to help him to raise money as his only means of income currently is delivering for UberEats. Lanterman announced that he might be at the crosswalk for another 3-weeks since his planned move to Palm Springs was delayed. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Currie family, from left, Kate, 5, Colin, 8 and Jamie hold signs of support and papers with a link to the fund raising page for Larry Lanterman, a recently widowed 87-year old crossing guard at Oso Grande Elementary School in Ladera Ranch on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. On his last day of work a group of parents and students surprised Lanterman, an Army veteran, at the cross walk with the fund raising page to help him to raise money, as his only means of income currently is delivering for UberEats. Lanterman announced that he might be at the crosswalk for another 3-weeks since his planned move to Palm Springs was delayed. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Larry Lanterman, right, a recently widowed 87-year old crossing guard at Oso Grande Elementary School poses for a photo with students, from left, Knox Rodriguez, 4, Kate Currie, 5, and Colin Currie, 8, in Ladera Ranch on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. On his last day a group of parents and students surprised Lanterman at the cross walk with signs of support and a fund raising page for him to help him to raise money as his only means of income currently is delivering for UberEats. Lanterman announced that he might be at the crosswalk for another 3-weeks since his planned move to Palm Springs was delayed. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Larry Lanterman, a recently widowed 87-year old crossing guard at Oso Grande Elementary School helps children cross the street in Ladera Ranch on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. On his last day of work a group of parents and students surprised Lanterman at the cross walk with signs of support and a fund raising page for him to help him to raise money as his only means of income currently is delivering for UberEats. Lanterman announced that he might be at the crosswalk for another 3-weeks since his planned move to Palm Springs was delayed. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Now, after decades of service as a volunteer crossing guard, Lanterman had to make the tough decision to uproot himself at the age of 87 from Ladera Ranch to live with family in Palm Springs after the death of his wife, Kathy Lanterman, in September.
An Army veteran, Lanterman is facing his own medical challenges with very limited financial means, said Currie. He had a valve replacement surgery two years ago and is in and out of the hospital to deal with issues from that procedure and explore the option of a pacemaker, she said.
Lanterman’s only means to support himself are his current savings as well as delivering food through Uber Eats when he has the time, said Currie.
So the Oso Grande community is rallying around their crossing guard to make the transition to Palm Springs a bit easier.
On Tuesday, Oct. 17, in the midst of performing his crossing guard duties, Lanterman was greeted by children and parents holding signs with various encouraging messages — “We love Mr. Larry,” “Honk for Larry,” and “Mr. Larry is awesome!” — as well as the news a GoFundMe page had been set up by the Currie family.
“He has been a beacon of light in our community, so we wanted to give him a proper sendoff,” said Currie.
“Ultimately, a fundraiser to cover the costs of his unexpected move and hopefully a little something extra for him to enjoy as he starts a new chapter in his life seemed like a way we could all come together to show our appreciation for him,” she said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, more than $3,300 had been raised.
“I was completely in shock,” said Lanterman with a chuckle. “It was just so unexpected.”
The corner of Sienna Parkway and Covenant Hills Drive was packed Tuesday afternoon with families and students as school was getting out, all cheering on Lanterman as he helped kids cross the street.
“All of these families and students are my favorite people,” said Lanterman. “Being a crossing guard is a fun job and something everyone should try and do. It was great seeing everyone, and it is great seeing them every day I am out here.”
By the end of the month, Lanterman will be joining his son and daughter, two grandchildren and in-laws out in the desert, stepping into a new phase of his life away from the Oso Grande students.
“I hope that by helping him monetarily, we can ease him into retirement with his family in a more stable and relaxing way. He has done so much for our community, this feels like the least we can do,” said Currie.
