He joined the orchestra in 1964, moved to Cherry Hill in 1969, and devoted his life to family and music. 'He was definitely unique,' his daughter said.
Larry Grika, 90, of Cherry Hill, retired celebrated first violinist for the Philadelphia Orchestra, esteemed music teacher, mentor to many, and players union leader, died Tuesday, Aug. 8, of kidney disease at his home.
Mr. Grika left the Cincinnati Symphony for Philadelphia in 1964, retired from full-time playing in 2005, and finally stopped sitting in as a substitute when he was 80 in 2012. He toured China during the orchestra’s historic visits in 1973 and 1993, and oversaw conductor Eugene Ormandy’s 80th birthday celebration in 1979 and the 2005 gala that marked the return of conductor Riccardo Muti to Philadelphia.
His students noted his high expectations, patience, and constant encouragement, and several of them played softly at his bedside after he fell seriously ill. “He was like a magnet in the room,” said his daughter Lauren Eyer. “Everybody went toward him.” Former colleague Herbert Light said: “Larry Grika’s contributions to bettering the lives of Philadelphia Orchestra members are legendary and are still relevant today.”
He met Pearl Millman in Philadelphia through a mutual friend, and they married in 1966, and had son Marc, and daughters Lauren and Debbie. They lived at first in Philadelphia and moved to Cherry Hill in 1969.
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