Larry and I were introduced in January of 2008 because of somebody’s  decision that a two-person team was needed to staff the tiny Tysons Corner Physio Clinic.  Whomever that decision maker was, I am forever in gratitude to them for bringing me one of my very best friends who became like family to me. 

Larry came in full force and made that clinic his own.  According to him, it was plain and boring and unprofessional-looking, so he painted blue trim along the clinic walls in between seeing patients and hung pictures on the walls.  He fanagled to get “Tiger Wood’s treadmill”, the one Tiger used to run on during the PGA tour, into our small clinic and loved to regale patients with stories about him and many other golf professionals.  Larry would run on that treadmill early in the morning, shower, and see a bazillion patients. He was enthusiastic about sharing his clinical knowledge, and yet, so much of what I learned from him was about the psychology of patient care.  Putting the patient’s wants and needs and fears before our ego and our smartness and our textbook knowledge was the simple answer to a successful patient outcome.

Larry worked so quickly and efficiently that I was eventually edged out of that job. The higher ups must have decided “who needs two physical therapists when you have one Larry Yack?”.   I found myself a fabulous new job that was missing only one thing - Larry. With the lure of more money and less units I was able to talk him into coming over to this other clinic.  For years he would tell people I was his Teri McGuire because it was a better move for him financially.  “Show me the money!!!!”… Yes, Larry loved his dollars and cents.

At Bodies In Motion, we quickly fell back to our old ways of student and teacher and joking friends.  We were like the Odd Couple - constantly bickering but always knowing we had huge respect and affection for each other.  Larry’s favorite saying in my presence was to jokingly ask “what would I do for aggravation without Teri Deal?”.

Our friendship would continue for another decade until his death.  During that time, he became a beloved uncle figure to my daughter, Victoria, who loved him very much.  She enjoyed the funny patient stories he told and, of course, the Christmas gifts and birthday money Larry had for her each year.  The sweet cards with loving messages from him and Kandi will always be in her cherished childhood memories.  An amazing Harry Potter-themed dinner and decorating the Disney tree at their home are also favorite memories bestowed by Larry and Kandi to her.  

Larry built Victoria an amazing treehouse that is in my yard to this day as a reminder of his energy, ingenuity and generosity.  He designed that treehouse as he went; once calling me from the side of a road somewhere in Colorado to tell me he had just seen a treehouse that gave him the final ideas for his design.  But, the treehouse colors he left up to Victoria, and so it became both purple and pink, with a blue roof.

Larry also became a friend to my husband, Doug, and rehabilitated his torn achilles tendon so he could return to running sooner than later.  Doug was always thrilled when he was asked by Larry to complete a golf foursome.  He also loved working side by side with Larry while building that tree house and recounts many great stories from those weekend visits. 

At the Treehouse-Warming Party, Larry endeared himself to Doug’s parents and from then on often asked about them.  Concern for their health and holiday greetings were always expressed.

There are so many stories I could tell and so many memories - all of which bring a smile to my face.  Larry brought joy and laughter to my life, to my work, enriching my knowledge with that magical stuff that books can’t teach.  He was my daughter’s  special “Mr. Larry” and friend to my husband.  Larry was family to me; my best buddy, my friend, my work confidante, my mentor.  There is a giant hole in my heart that will never heal.  Thank you, Larry, for being such a special part of my life.  I am honored to have called you my friend.