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Published on 06/19/1995 All articles from this issue

Larry Coykendall, Los Altos businessman, enjoyed special rapport with employees, customers

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By Alex Valdes

Special to the Town Crier

The one thing that always seems to come up when people talk about Guy Lawrence "Larry" Coykendall is how he did a complete makeover at Excel Pool and Patio in Los Altos. He reorganized the merchandise, talked the owner into installing new carpet and a new floor, and became the main man behind the retail operation.

Mr. Coykendall died of a massive heart attack at work on the morning of June 12 while he was conducting a pool water analysis. Though cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed, Mr. Coykendall did not revive. He was 45.

A Redwood City resident for the past 27 years, Mr. Coykendall had worked at Excel since 1982 and was the manager of the retail store on Fremont Avenue. He was in charge of advertising, of hiring and firing and of merchandise orders.

"He completely rearranged the store," said Vickie Clark, who worked with Mr. Coykendall for 10 years. "He was originally in the grocery business, and he had a lot of merchandising skills. When he first started working here, it wasn't much of a merchandise operation. There were chemicals over here, chemicals over there. He completely arranged the chemical area, moved a few things around."

Ms. Clark met Mr. Coykendall when both worked at the Lee and Carol pool store in San Carlos. After he accepted the retail manager position at Excel in 1982, he persuaded owner Dick Frederick to hire Ms. Clark, who had become disillusioned with the management at Lee and Carol.

Mr. Coykendall even loaned Ms. Clark $300 out of pocket after she was fired from Lee and Carol so that she could pay some bills. It was that kind of warm personality that made Mr. Coykendall a favorite of friends and customers.

"He was very easy-going and loved his customers," said Ms. Clark. "He had very good customer and employee rapport. I don't think any employee ever quit because he couldn't work with Larry."

While still a young child, Mr. Coykendall moved with his family to San Bruno. He graduated from Capuchino High School and also studied at College of San Mateo.

"He wanted to go into police science, but he couldn't take the blood, so he went to work at Lucky as a retail clerk," said his wife, Susie Coykendall.

The Coykendalls, who would have been married 20 years on June 30, took yearly trips to either Hawaii or Myrtle Beach, S.C., starting in 1979. They even looked into starting a pool business in Kona, Hawaii.

The couple were avid golfers, indulging in the sport when they went to Hawaii and Myrtle Beach, and they were also members at Bayview Golf Club for the past three years. They bowled together in the Guys and Dolls league, of which Mr. Coykendall was selected president.

Mr. Coykendall enjoyed watching professional sports and was a partial season-ticket holder for the San Francisco Giants baseball team.

"He had a great sense of humor," Ms. Coykendall said. "He liked to make you laugh. He was there for anyone who needed help, being a father or buddy."

Mr. Coykendall is also survived by a daughter, Christie, and cousins Kit and Gary Allan of Idaho Falls, Idaho. He will be missed by loving in-laws Mr. and Mrs. Norden of Millbrae; and by Lee, Kasey and Rachel Johnson of Pacifica.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a favorite charity in Mr. Coykendall's memory.