Lawrence “Larry” Marsalli, one of Santa Clara’s most beloved patriarchs, died Monday at the age of 92. A lifelong Santa Claran, Marsalli was a graduate of Santa Clara High School and went on to make his mark in every dimension of community life.
Marsalli served on the Santa Clara City Council from 1963 to 1973, was Mayor in 1967 and 1968 and was a member of Santa Clara’s volunteer fire department from 1946 to 1967. He also served on the Civil Service Commission and the Planning Commission.
He founded the City’s Parade of Champions — chairing the event for 50 years —and served on the board of the Mission City Community Fund. He was also a founder of the Italian American Heritage Foundation and was a Grand Past President of that organization.
In 2006, Marsalli and his family founded the annual community Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Clare’s Church.
“We all have Thanksgiving every day,” he said in 2006, referring to the many blessings he had received in his life. “I’d like to do something for people who don’t have that.”
An evening visitation and vigil will be held Thursday, July 12 at 7 p.m. and a funeral mass on Friday, July 13 at 10:30 a.m. Both services will be held at St. Clare Church, 941 Lexington St. in Santa Clara.
