9:59 Club Loses Hollywood

The 9:59 Club and the Bethany Beach community lost a long-time member when Larry Schap passed away last week at the age of 78.

A member of the club for over 25 years, Larry was nicknamed “Hollywood” by members due to his tanned good looks and flowing white hair. Plus, he was a natty dresser kind of in the preppy beachy style.

Formerly a butcher with the Giant supermarket chain, in retirement he did landscaping work for over twenty homes in the community. Each spring he’d spread mulch and in the fall rake leaves. In between he cut grass and tended to yards. He enjoyed this work and did it more for the activity than for the money.

It wasn’t just on the boardwalk where Larry was a fixture, he was also the unofficial mayor of the Oakwood beach in Bethany. During the warm months you could find him there every sunny day.

Larry was both a gentleman and a gentle man. He was the quiet man on the 9:59 bench. He never missed a beat, taking in all the banter from the bunch of grumpy old men around him, but never having anything but a nice word himself.

The bench isn’t the same without him.