Laurence C Cain

December 12, 1938 – April 19, 2026

Laurence C. Cain, 87, of San Juan Bautista, California, passed away at his home, surrounded by family, on April 19, 2026. He will be remembered for his love, devotion, positivity, and generosity to his family, friends, church, and community, as well as his numerous professional accomplishments.

Laurence (Larry) was born in Salinas, to Donald and Vada Cain, on December 12, 1938. He grew up in Tres Pinos and attended San Benito High School. He studied at Fresno State, University of Miami, and University of San Francisco, where he attended a year of Law School and graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration with Emphasis in Accounting. During his college years, he served in the National Guard as Tank Commander.

Larry was considered a “Jack-of-all-Trades” because of his vast and varied professional and public sector experience. While attending USF, he started working for Marine Chartering as a Junior Accountant and continued with the ocean transportation company for over a decade, becoming Chief Accountant, Corporate Treasurer, and Vice President, and relocating with his family to New Orleans, Louisiana, and then to Belize City in Belize, Central America.

While living in Belize, he became self-employed in construction and land development, building infrastructure, houses, and a hotel, along with managing a farm and operating a quarry. He also worked as a Location Manager for the films, “The Mosquito Coast” and “Caribe” and built sets for the musical productions of the Belize Choral Society.

When Larry and Judy returned to San Juan Bautista, Larry worked for several years as an insurance agent, advising people on retirement issues. He then became involved in local government, serving San Juan Bautista as Council Member, Mayor, and City Manager. He served as Director on several Boards, including the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control Board, San Benito County Council of Governments, and Gavilan College Educational Foundation.

Larry was also involved in the newspaper business, working as General Manager and then Editor of the Pinnacle, and as Senior Editor of the San Juan Star. Last, but certainly not least, Larry was passionate about ensuring water availability to the communities he loved. He was the Founding Director and first Chairman of the Tres Pinos County Water District and was responsible for the first water tank on the hill above Tres Pinos. He was instrumental in securing a multi-million dollar grant to improve San Juan Bautista’s water system and his last job before retiring was General Manager of the Aromas Water District.

Larry has been the backbone of several local organizations, including San Juan Service Club, Anzar Community Schools Foundation, the YMCA, the Boy Scouts, and the Mission Preservation Fund. He became a Rotarian in Belize in 1976 and was a founding member of the San Juan Bautista Rotary Club. He had a strong faith and was involved in his church—teaching religious education, reading at Mass, and counseling Mission youth groups. Larry spent his lifetime helping others without the need for recognition. He had a generous heart and genuine passion for elevating his community and the lives he touched.

Larry’s greatest love of his life was his wife, Judy, and the family they created. He is survived by Judith Ann Cain, to whom he was married for almost 63 years, and daughters Denise (Andy), Annette (Greg), Susanne (Danny), Katherine (Jesus), and son, Robert (Laurie) and former son-in-law, Kamran Delavarpour. He’s also survived by his grandchildren: Neda, Sean and Andre Delavarpour, Emilio and Alyssa Zavala, Sofia and Luke Anderson, and Gabrielle Wing-Cain. He was preceded in death by his older sister, Beverly Cain.

Friends and family are invited to his rosary service on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 6 p.m., at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home in Hollister and his funeral service on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 11 am, at Mission San Juan Bautista.

Memorial donations may be made in Larry’s name to any of the following charitable organizations that were dear to his heart: Rotary Foundation, SJB Service Club, SJB Mission Preservation Board and the California Fire Foundation.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Larry’s caregivers, Mary Clark and Christina Gonzalez, Ross Gularte, and all the neighbors and firemen who helped lift him back on his feet, and to the wonderful staff of Ascension Healthcare Services and Soleil Hospice for their loving care and personal attention.