A Man Who Meant Magic

Larry Bidlingmyer never forgot where he came from or where his heart remained, even during some of the toughest times imaginable. This morning Larry lost his fight with cancer but leaves behind an example as testament to life lived to the fullest.

Guest blog: WAKR's Ray Horner and Joe Jastrzemski

You're never prepared to hear the news that a dear friend has passed away. The e-mail that told us that Larry Bidlingmyer had died meant a real tough morning.

We remembered Larry on the air today. We'll do more tomorrow, and we'll certainly do even more to remember Larry when the Greynolds Classic takes place December 29th and 30th.
Honesty, hard work and class. Words that come to mind when we think of Larry Bidlingmyer.

"From bike riding to making sure that every detail was taken care for the Greynolds Classic, basketball event that was his brain child, Larry dotted every "I". I visited Larry at Barberton Citizen Hospital last Thursday so see how our friend was coping; "do you have everything you need for the Greynolds Classic?," he asked, despite the pain and fog of treatment. Larry wanted to get out his computer to work on details.

Jack Greynolds was a dear friend of Larry's and he wanted to make sure people did not forget what Jack did to help so many of our area's youth. I hope people remember Larry for those same goals." - Ray Horner

"My first meeting with Larry was at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State. Larry was there to watch his son coach the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Larry was so proud, and he didn't come by himself, there were a dozen or so friends to enjoy the experience with him.

I always looked forward to sitting in the stands with Larry before those CSU-UWM games. The talk was not only about basketball but about everything from Barberton to giving me a scouting report on the upcoming game.

It was never about Larry. He was always looking out for others. This really came into focus in talking with Barberton Mayor Bob Genet about how sorely the community will miss Larry." - Joe Jastrzemski

Larry was passionate in life: biking in Washington D.C., trips to see his son coach college basketball, over lunch pressing for help raising dollars needed for various programs in Barberton. Larry loved the purple of Barberton, but more than that he loved life and those he touched.

Every time a basketball bounces in Barberton, be sure to remember Larry Bidlingmyer.