Ellen Walderman-Blazucki
Katherine,
We have shared memories during the last days of Larry's life. May he rest in peace and may may you find comfort and support during this very difficult time.
Ellen Blazucki
Birth date: Nov 14, 1944 Death date: Jan 15, 2019
Frederick Lawrence (Larry) Gravelle, 74, of Pasadena MD, died peacefully on January 15, 2019 with his wife Katherine Rozos Gravelle by his side. Born November 14, 1944, in Somerville, MA, Larry attended Notre Dame de Pitie High S Read Obituary
Katherine,
We have shared memories during the last days of Larry's life. May he rest in peace and may may you find comfort and support during this very difficult time.
Ellen Blazucki
It was truly an honor and privilege to be a part of caring for Larry and Katherine during his illness and end of life. They both showed tremendous courage, strength and great love through a difficult journey. Prayers continue for Love, Peace and Healing for Katherine and family.
Larry's love and devotion to Katherine was always inspirational. I remember when Larry renovated their home himself. I was so impressed that he had the know-how and the tenacity to make his vision a beautiful reality.
He will be missed.
My dad will always be remembered as one of discriminating taste and who wanted to find the very best that life had to offer so that he could share the experience with those whom he loved. Though he never physically took me on a trip to his childhood homes of Schuylerville, NY or Somerville, MA he spoke like a true historian attempting to preserve the memories of those who had passed.
By the time I was born, the construction scene in New England was dissolving, which required him to spend a great deal of time away from home, but he always managed to make it home in time for special occasions, attempting to make up for lost time.
To me, he was a master at what he did. Seeing the multiple projects that he oversaw transform from the point of breaking ground to full fruition, always left me in a state of wonder and still does. From The Breakers Hotel in Galveston to International Place in Boston to The Paramount Condos in Reston, VA to the Auto Auction Center in Chicago then to Miami, then to San Antonio, then to… (The Pentagon) there are so many buildings which exist in part due to his leadership and ability to get the job done.
With me, he enjoyed music (The Beach Boys, Neil Diamond - even taking me to see the Go-Gos), sports (seeing the Celtics every time they came to Houston - reflecting back to the days of Bob Cousy), and movies (boy could we put away the popcorn and Cokes.) From Pinwheel cookies to circus peanuts to Chocolate covered Hostess Donuts and Brigham Hot Fudge Sauce, I felt at times that he was a big kid by my side, but at the same time never forgetting he was my in-charge dad. He expected me to go to church, use best manners, write thank you notes, and not outstay a welcome.
Thanks to him, I have a greater appreciation and scope of the world; traveling with him to many of the cities mentioned above to see him in action, as well as our whirlwind trip to Australia. I am so glad that he continued his many journies with Katherine to Greece. She brought new hope to his life when he needed it the most.
He had an entrepreneur’s mind seeing either new uses for something or trying ways to make things better. Though he might have always had this skill, I think he truly developed it when times got tough. He never gave up… he was a fighter.
He was always there for me and my family (from my shows to my wedding to my UNCW graduation to the birth of both boys, and their birthdays). In my mind and heart, he always will be there. There will never be a day that I don't think of him and wish that I could show him how much I love him and how sorry I am for all he had to undergo.
We dealt Larry first in a business context and found him serious, detail oriented and incredibly dogged about defending a position when he felt he was right. And he was usually right. Thorough. Got to know him more as a friend as the years went by; he & Katherine were the first to step up for us when we were rebounding from a serious illness. Philadelphia Tavern where Larry made a special point to make our shy 9 year old welcome and laugh. It was quintessentially Larry that he snatched his first medical clearance to enjoy a cigar and glass of whiskey. We know retirement plans did not materialize as hoped, but we will remeber Larry as a friend, and there is no higher praise in this life. Godspeed, Larry!