One called me brother, the other called me dad

Diabetes cut down these giants, but their legacies live on

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Dorchester has produced its fair share of great people and significant events through the years. Two people who need to be included in that history are Lewis Andrew Graham and Louis Karl Larry. With the recent passing of Larry and his connection to Graham, I felt it was time to bring their names into “the heroes’ spotlight.”

Graham was the first person I met on my first night at Boston University. I arrived late and had to rush to Myles Standish Hall to get dinner. Upon arrival, just one other person was left in the dining room: Graham. He ate at one table as I sat down at another. He got up, came to my table and introduced himself.

“You shouldn’t have to eat alone,” he said.  “My name is Lew.”

From that moment, a lifelong brotherly relationship started to form, and within days, I adopted Graham as my brother. I also adopted his family: his mother, Ruthy, and three brothers, James, Robby, and Roy. We became brothers to the core for the rest of his life. We pledged a fraternity together (Alpha Phi Alpha) and shared a room in college and a home in Dorchester.

Graham was a scholarship basketball player at BU. I was a walk-on player on the freshman team. He became a captain of the varsity squad, despite suffering major leg injuries. One of his greatest moments on the team was the night that BU upset Boston College at Sargent Gym.

Despite being diagnosed with childhood diabetes the summer before his sophomore year, Graham played one of the best games of his career. I remembered running onto the floor and jumping into his arms as the final buzzer sounded. Coming off a championship game appearance in the 1968 National Invitation Tournament, BC was a heavy favorite to win the game. Still, that night belonged to Graham and his BU teammates.

Lewis Graham PHOTO: Courtesy Graham Family

Following his graduation from BU, Graham ventured into the business world. He became an executive at Massachusetts Port Authority and later at the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, while battling the ravages of diabetes. As his health declined, he still found time to help me coach basketball at Grahm Junior College, which is now closed. I would constantly refer to the college as his college.

Fred Laskey, current director of the MWRA, was often quoted as saying: “Lew Graham was one of the finest men I have ever known, a true gentleman.”

Laskey’s sentiment was echoed by just about everyone who met and got to know Graham.

“I can’t imagine anyone ever saying a bad word about Lew Graham,” Charles Luce, Graham’s coach at BU, once said.

The link between Graham and Larry is significant in that both of these Black men loved people while forging their reputations on the tough streets of Dorchester. While Graham was a quiet, gentle soul, the younger Larry was a boisterous yet tender-hearted man of the people.

After playing at Umana High School, Larry attended college at Salem State and St. Augustine. He would adopt Troy Smith, Will Knight and Jeff Johnson as brothers for life.

“Lou was always the life of the party, but his true worth came through his love for young people and adults in need,” Smith said, noting that Larry became a paraprofessional at Madison Park and Charlestown high schools and served as an assistant coach of girls’ basketball under Rayetta Perkins-Jones while at Charlestown.

Larry became a foundational pillar for young people and adults while serving at the Dorchester House.

“He would do just about everything for the people at Dorchester House, from providing food to going to court to help families in distress,” said Smith, who plays the identical role as director of the Boston Centers for Youth and Family’s Perkins Community Center.

Graham died in 2014, and Larry passed from this life on Dec. 21.

The two would meet and share many long hours as they both battled diabetes. This horrific disease took their lives, and leaves a hole in this world that would be so hard to fill. Though 10  years apart, their deaths remind me of their contributions to so many lives.

Lew Graham always called me his brother, “Doctor Myers.” Lou Larry called me “Dad.” Both men have given me titles that I will forever cherish. Like these two remarkable men, and like so many millions of people in this world, I share in the battle against diabetes. I only pray that I will show the courage and dignity that each of them showed, despite their amputations, prolonged hospital stays, and far too many days of pain and suffering.

The light of life has left the eyes of Lewis Andrew Graham and Louis Karl Larry.

Rest in peace. I thank God daily for both of you touching my life. Until we meet again.

Services for Louis Larry are on Saturday January 13th at the Dolan Funeral Home in Dorchester, MA