LAURENCE "LARRY" STANLEY GOSCINSKI

Larry Goscinski was born Oct. 28, 1995 in Cleveland, OH, the oldest of Stanley and Margaret (Krysiak) Goscinski’s three children.

His family moved several times - he spent his childhood in Ohio, Illinois, New York and Florida. In 1974, he graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic High School, where he was on the football and track teams. First attending local colleges in Florida, he did track and field, throwing hammer and sometimes discus. He proudly recalled meeting a number of Olympians at various track meets in those years.

After receiving his A.S degree from Central Florida Community College in 1979 he arrived in California, working for P.G. & E. at Diablo Canyon Power Plant and continuing his education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in his spare time. Socializing at Newman Catholic Fellowship brought him new friends and is where he met his wife Elisabeth Burke of Bakersfield. They married in 1987 and started a family.

Finally completing his B.S degree through Regent’s College of New York in 1997, Larry switched from nuclear plant worker to account representative for P.G. & E., and the family moved from the coast to Bakersfield in 1998.

Larry became a charter member of Knights of Columbus Council #12719, but spent much of his time as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 415 at Christ the King Catholic Church. He enjoyed the camping trips and teaching practical skills to the boys of the troop.

After getting retired from P.G.& E. in 2014, he traveled as a rent-a-tech at nuke plants in Arizona and Wisconsin, then worked at Mt. Poso Co-generation Plant near Bakersfield from 2018 to 2021.

Larry was interested in everything, especially history and science. He was always learning and loved to share his knowledge. His main “hobby” was working on cars and he was always teaching the kids how to fix things.

He also enjoyed travel. He and Elisabeth made several lengthy trips to Europe. Strangely, every time they went, they seemed to have another child with them. They also visited relatives back East and once made a seven-week cross-country trip with all four kids and too much luggage. Larry was very proud of his children and loved to brag about them. He fully supported their activities in music, dance, drama, Scouts and gymnastics. He also taught them to help others and be good citizens.

Larry is survived by his wife of 35 years, Elisabeth, and their four children: Nora (Jason) Dunkel, Philena (Micah) Dunlap, Edward Goscinski and Alicia Goscinski. He is also survived by two grandsons, Eugene and Martin Dunkel; his brother Michael (Susan) Goscinski, his sister Mary (Jim) Goscinski-Calsam and nieces Sarah, Margaret, and Kaitlyn.

A Rosary will be held at 6:30 pm Thursday October 6 at Christ the King Catholic  Church, 1800 Bedford Way. The funeral Mass will be at 10 am Friday, October 7 at Christ the King followed by interment at Union Cemetery.