Larry Male

Larry Male of Parker, Colorado passed peacefully on October 11, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was three days shy of his 75th birthday.

He leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Joanne Heil Male, his two daughters, Lauren Male Paulick (Will) of Evergreen, Colorado and Emily Nichols (Drew) of Thornton, Colorado. He was Pop to three grandchildren: Avery, 7, Riley, 4, and Huxley, 4. They were the light of his life. He is also survived by his son, Jason Male, and grandson, Zachary Male, of Hellertown, Pennsylvania.

Larry was born October 14, 1950, in Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania. He was raised in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, the youngest of five children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony Male Sr. and Jeanette (Avate) Male, along with his oldest brother, Jim Male. He is survived by his sister, Frances Temos, and brothers Tony (Sharon) and John (Kathy) Male, all of Pennsylvania. He was affectionately known as Uncle Lar to many nieces and nephews, their children and grandchildren. Larry was a treasured member of the extended Heil family, Joanne's relatives, forming close bonds that brought him tremendous joy throughout their marriage.

A sense of adventure and curiosity led Larry to work on both the hottest and coldest parts of our planet. He spent early adulthood working in Death Valley, California before dedicating most of his remaining career to the United States Antarctic Program, supporting scientific research on "The Ice" in roles ranging from facilities construction to contract bidding to supply chain logistics. Through this work, Larry became an Old Antarctic Explorer and built a worldwide network of friends and colleagues who will miss him dearly.

In his 30 years as a Parker resident, Larry became a cherished fixture in his neighborhood and community. He and Joanne built a life together centered on simple pleasures: long drives, good music, and tending to their gardens at home. He was genuinely well-liked and had a gift for making friends wherever he went. Whether with his dear friends at local bars, cheering from the bleachers and coaching Emily's softball teams, or being a devoted dance dad at Lauren's recitals, his presence improved every space he entered. Larry formed a special bond with his sons-in-law, Will and Drew. They never passed up a chance to spend time on the back deck with him, and he looked forward to their conversations and company just as much. He volunteered his time at the Denver Rescue Mission and had a talent for engaging conversation that made him memorable to all who knew him. Larry's warmth and authenticity left a lasting impression.

There was no place that Larry shone more brightly, though, than in his kitchen. He showed his love through food and was an exceptional cook. His first thought of the day was usually "What's for dinner?" rather than "Good Morning". For Larry, caring for others meant making sure they ate well. His red sauce, chicken paprikash, linguine with white clam sauce, grilled steaks, caprese salads, and homemade salsa from his garden will remain unrivaled. His food nourished mind, body, and soul and brought people together around his table. He drew great satisfaction from positive feedback but always strived to perfect a recipe the next time around. His legacy lives on in his daughters and grandchildren, but he'll be remembered by all who knew him for his love of cooking and feeding people delicious food.

Larry's final weekend was spent doing what he loved most. On Saturday, he watched Avery score three goals at his soccer game and sang him happy birthday. He watched his granddaughters Riley and Huxley build forts and concoct imaginary worlds together, just as he had watched his daughters do years before. On Sunday, Larry watched the Denver Broncos beat the Philadelphia Eagles for the first time since 2013. He then came home and started to cook dinner. Larry's last act was picking tomatoes from his garden to prepare a meal for him and Joanne. The family has found great solace in the fact that his final 48 hours outside of the hospital were filled with family, food, gardening, and the joy of football bragging rights over his extended family in Pennsylvania.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Denver Rescue Mission or planting a vegetable garden in Larry's honor.