Lawrence Morton Grotstein
GROTSTEIN: Lawrence Morton Grotstein passed away on May 3, surrounded by friends and family, just two days after his 90th birthday. The Squirrel Hill native first made his name in sports at Taylor Allderdice as a standout athlete as captain of the basketball team, quarterback/captain of the football team, first baseman in baseball and a star of track-and field. He was awarded full-ride basketball scholarships at both Pitt and Duquesne and traveled the country playing basketball for the Army. In 2004, he was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of Western Pennsylvania. Well into his 80s, it was still common for people to stop him on the street and remark on his tre-mendous athletic past. Larry married Janet Sedaka in 1974 and he became a second father to her children, Stephanie, Ricki and Victor. Larry and Janet remained together until her passing in 2019. His first marriage was to Lynn Harbison, with whom he had two children, Todd and Lauri. With longtime friend and business partner, Alan Maglin, Larry founded and ran Computer Tech and the International Culinary Academy and expanded the businesses to multiple locations throughout the tri-state area. As their businesses grew, Larry continued a new chapter of his athletic prowess gar-nering win after win on the racquetball courts. Known for his sense of humor, which stayed with him until his very last days, Larry lived most of his life in Squirrel Hill, but also spent years in Brooklyn, New Jersey and Florida. More recently, his days were spent swapping stories with his friends at Squirrel Hill’s The New Riverview Apartments. Larry is survived by his five children: Todd Grotstein (Lisa), Lauri Gravina (David), Stephanie Davis (Ted), Ricki Harbaugh (Blake), and Victor Sedaka; his grandchildren, Macie and Riley Grotstein, Maia and Lucas Gravina, Leora (Geffen) Waks, Ariel Kell, Debra Fishman, Alison Harbaugh, Dara and Alexa Sedaka; and his great grandchildren, Chaim, Eli and Kayla Kell, and Chaim, Yitzchak and Rivkah Fishman. The family sends love and gratitude to his caregiver, Lezlee Hunter. A graveside service was held on May 4 at Shaare Torah Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Memory of Larry Grotstein, VA Medical Center, c/o Voluntary Service (135), Canandaigua, N.Y. 14424. Larry will be dearly missed. PJC
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