Larry Ortega Gaeta Jr. Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Larry Ortega Gaeta Jr. March 20, 1947 - December 7, 2022 On December 7, Larry Gaeta, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, died while at home in Cayucos. Born in Fresno on March 20, 1947, Larry was the eldest in his family of seven siblings and grew up Shafter. A lifelong athlete who excelled in many sports, Larry graduated from Shafter High School, matriculating alongside the woman who would one day become his wife of 47 years, Nancy. After graduating from Bakersfield College, he volunteered to enlist in the US Army during the Vietnam War, serving honorably as an MP. This experience led to a life dedicated to serving others, as he soon embarked on a 32+ year career as a CHP officer. While at the CHP Academy, he “rediscovered” his former Shafter classmate Nancy and they were married in 1975. They soon saw their family grow with the births of their daughter, Melanie, and son, Tommy. Larry and his family eventually made their way to Cayucos, where Melanie and Tommy attended Coast Union High School in Cambria, at which Larry was a regular and passionate spectator of all of their sporting events. Larry got to continue to watch Melanie compete in softball at the collegiate level while she attended Cuesta College, and later celebrated with her when she graduated from UCSB. Always a Notre Dame football fan, Larry became a die-hard Fighting Irish fanatic when Tommy graduated from the University of Notre Dame. Larry retired from the CHP in 2005 and immediately began traveling the world with Nancy, most often visiting their vacation property in Hawaii, where they enjoyed many happy memories for 15+ years. In his later years of his life, Larry relished in his new roles as a father in-law and grandfather, savoring every moment he was able to spend with his grandchildren Natalie, Tatum, Jack, and Ana. Larry is survived by his wife Nancy; daughter Melanie and her husband John; son Tommy and his wife Victoria; grandchildren Natalie, Tatum, Jack, and Ana; and siblings Veronica, Richard, Virginia, David, Yolanda, and Bill. Services will be held at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in Morro Bay on December 15 at 10:00. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the CAHP Widows and Orphans’ Fund. https://www.thecahp.org/post/donate-cahp-widows-and-orphans-trust