Whether you knew him or not, you probably saw him, or heard him, or had a pleasant encounter with a man who was universally respected.

He was an “unassuming celebrity of sorts,” WVUD station manager Steve Kramarck said. The kind of guy who was always everywhere, doing everything, all over campus.

Carr was born in Kenton, Ohio, and after his honorable discharge from the army he landed in Newark in 1969, where he enrolled in classes at UD. He earned two bachelor’s degrees: psychology in 1979 and criminal justice in 1985.

If you were a student, staff or faculty member during that time, you might have been served by Carr when he was working in food services, possibly in the old Scrounge. You might have sat next to him at Mass at the St. Thomas More Oratory, now known as The Newman Center (in 2012, he was awarded the Diocese of Wilmington’s Diocesan Medal of Merit Award for outstanding volunteerism). Maybe you cheered with him at Delaware Stadium; he was known for giving the Blue Hen football team pep talks.

It’s likely you noticed him walking all over Newark wearing one of his three UD caps or riding his bike along Route 896 to get to campus for classes. Carr always rode his bike — he never learned to drive.

At some point over the next 38 years, you would have heard him on WVUD, where he hosted the Fine Tuning classical show on Fridays. He was inducted into the station’s Hall of Fame in 2010.

Kramarck said that Carr’s kind and caring demeanor made him a one-of-a-kind DJ who drew in and grabbed listeners. It was the same thing with those around him, he said.

“He made a lasting impact on decades of WVUD students, volunteers and listeners alike,” Kramarck said. “There will never be another like him and he will be greatly missed.”

Students working at the station — more than 65 years younger — were understandably shaken by Carr’s passing. Program director Becca Lewis, sports director Sanaa Mason and music director Sophia Shull recalled the stories and laughter that Carr shared at the WVUD board meetings.

“Larry lit up every room he entered,” Lewis said. “We will forever cherish all the beautiful memories made with our Larry Carr.”

Fellow WVUD legend Chuck Tarver, who was among those responsible for bringing Carr to the airwaves, said Carr’s calm and free-spirited demeanor encouraged others to join in whatever fun or good feelings he was experiencing.

“It was the ‘Larry effect,’” said Tarver, who was station manager for 23 years. “He was always his authentic self. It made everyone around him better.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be presided by Fr. Ed Ogden at St. Margaret of Scotland, 2431 Frazer Rd, Newark, DE on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 11:30 a.m., with a Gathering of Friends 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the church lobby. Burial with military honors will follow at 1 p.m. at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bear.