Larry Grella died on June 14, 2023, while doing what he loved best. He suffered a massive cardiac arrest while mountain biking in Park City, Utah. Larry was living in Moab and Salt Lake City with his wife, Gail Biedermann, and was known as an expert custom boot and bike fitter.
Larry worked as a ski coach and custom boot fitter at many ski resorts, including Breckenridge, Steamboat, Jackson Hole, Snowbird, Squaw Valley, and Mt. Wachusett. To many people in the ski industry, he was known as “Larry the Legend” or simply “Legend.”
Larry was drawn to Moab in the early era of mountain biking. He would spend the skiing off-seasons camping around Moab and biking the extreme trails. He worked at the top Moab bike shops, including Rim Cyclery, Slickrock Cycles, and Uranium Cyclery. He was a consummate bike mechanic, coach, tour guide, and promoter of the sport. He was a Serotta-certified bike fitter.
Moab was his happy place, and he set down roots by buying a house in the spring of 2005 with space for his friends to crash.
He was a special man, a man that cared deeply, shared his knowledge and his beliefs selflessly, and always helped others. Whether to lessen their suffering or to increase their enjoyment of riding, skiing, driving, wrenching, or traveling…it mattered not, as long as he could help.
Larry was born Lawrence J. Grella III in Newton, Massachusetts, the first son of Phyllis and Lawrence Grella, Jr. The oldest of three brothers, Larry grew up water skiing and snow skiing.
He is survived by his wife, Gail Biedermann; his dog, Burley; his mother, Phyllis Grella; and his brothers and their families: Steve Grella and ex-wife, Rhonda Grella; Jeffrey Grella and Sue Grella; nieces, Gina Joyce Maiden and Angela Grella; and nephew, Jake Grella.
A celebration of life will be held for his friends and family in Moab over the weekend of September 9 to 10, 2023. A memorial mountain bike ride and an off-road motorcycle ride are planned for that weekend, as well as a cookout in his honor.
