IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers RECOVERING- Larry Fried at home in Simi Valley with his wife of 33 years, Kathy. Standing before a roomful of family, friends and fellow public servants at the Lost Canyons Country Club- overlooking the valley he did so much to help build up- Larry Fried told the crowd at his farewell from the Planning Commission luncheon what so many of them already knew.

"I really wish I didn't have to resign; it's with a very heavy heart that I did," Fried said sincerely, not attempting to hide his bittersweet feelings for the occasion. "But it was the right thing to do."

Fried, who served the commission for eight years- two as its chair- was forced to step down from his appointed position in January because of persistent and very serious health problems.

The 59-year-old father of two has bested not one, but two battles with cancer in the past five years, the most recent being a nearly lifeending fight with esophageal cancer, a fight that cost Fried his esophagus. In 2003, he survived a bout with prostate cancer.

But despite these challenges, the 32year resident of Simi Valley has pledged his days of public service are far from over- further proof of Fried's unique passion for the city and its future- a quality that helped make him what Councilmember Barbra Williamson called "the best Planning Commissioner Simi Valley's ever had."

"I still want to be involved in the community," Fried said. "I told the city to let me known when they select the next candidates to sit on the General Plan Update committee because I want to interview for it."

"Worst year of my life"

While recovering from that surgery in early 2006 and still hoping to get back to the Planning Commission, Fried experienced serious problems breathing that doctors soon found were the result of an abscess "the size of a cantaloupe" that had formed on his lung.

Having just made it through the stress and heartache of watching her husband go through chemotherapy for a second time, Kathy Fried said the news hit the closeknit family, including children Kara, 25, and Erik, 29, hard.

"That landed him back at City of Hope for three months- we're grateful he's with us," said Kathy, Fried's wife of 33 years.

It was only the first of several setbacks for Fried in '06- a year he called the worst of his life- made better only by the love and support that spilt forth from family and friends, he said.

"What kept my positive attitude going was my family- my wife and my son and my daughter," Fried said. "They would be there every day bringing me get well cards."

And with all the friends he'd made in the city over the years, the cards kept flooding in. Many of them were from members of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise or Simi Presbyterian Church, for which Fried is a member.

"I didn't expect that so many people would be so kind and generous," Fried said. "Honestly, sometimes you forget that people can be that way."

All the while, Fried kept hoping he would get healthy enough to resume attending Planning Commission meetings.

In his absence, the commission was often left deadlocked by a 2-2 vote.

Fried said he often consulted Councilmember Glen Becerra, who appointed him to the commission in '99, about his condition. Though he was constantly absent from meetings, Fried said Becerra never stopped backing him, never stopped allowing him more time to heal.

In the end, though, Fried said stepping down from the commission was the best decision for himself and for the residents of Simi Valley.

"I kept thinking I was going to get better but it just didn't happen," Fried said. "I couldn't maintain it, and it wasn't fair to everybody that I wasn't able to fulfill my responsibilities on the commission."

Attending his final three meetings in the months of December and January, Fried stepped down shortly after his final meeting. He was replaced on the commission by Mary Bibb, who, like Fried, was appointed by Becerra.

Getting back on course

Right now, Fried said his two biggest goals are to get back into physical therapy and to get back involved with Simi Sunrise. He would also like to get enough stamina back so he can resume his favorite recreational activity: golf.

"I just want to get back to normal," said Fried, a native of Los Angeles who moved to Simi Valley in 1975. "I want to get back out on the course playing golf again. That's when I'll really know I'm getting better."

In the meantime, he said, he'll continue to recover in his home in Indian Hills with the help of his family, praying that his worst health issues are behind him.

"I know I have a lot of people praying for me- and that means a lot," he said.

At his farewell luncheon, it was clear that the city would be happy to have him back anytime soon.

"The decision to appoint Larry to the Planning Commission, I believe, was one of the best decisions I've made as a council member," Becerra said, turning to address Fried: "Larry, you've made me and my family extremely proud the way you have fought for and loved this city."

Kathy, who had to sacrifice her husband to stacks of staff reports for the past eight years, said Larry would look back on his service to the Planning Commission with great pride.

"He loved it. And he did such a great job," Kathy said.