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Larry Formato Obituary

LARRY RAY

FORMATO

Asheville - Larry Ray Formato died on November 3 after an arduous battle with pancreatic disease.

Born in 1949, Larry was typical of a new generation of baby boomers who discovered rock and roll.

Starting with primal riffs from a red stratocaster ripped from American surf music, Larry won "The Battle of The Bands" in 1966. After hitchhiking to Woodstock in the Summer of Love, Larry's affair with music turned into a life long marriage.

Known for complex writing and innovative melodies, Larry was considered a music virtuoso by everyone who met him. His songs detailed the working man, love and loss.

In Asheville in the 1960's, with long hair for the times, Larry was a trendsetter playing his Martin guitar locally before moving to El Dorado Springs, Colorado. Afterwards, he moved to San Francisco to perform with his writing partner. In 1976, Larry moved back to Asheville permanently to his house on Town Mountain.

It is at this house, where after saying goodbye to his beloved Mother, Lorraine Formato; his sister, Dori Legg; and brother-in-law, Howard Overshown; his baby brother, Richard Formato; his sister-in-law, Lori; his niece, Lily Page; and nephew, Jack Jack, that Larry slipped through their arms into the next great realm.

To pay the bills, Larry worked at Professional Sales and then progressed to the Director of Intake at Blue Ridge Center where he was known for using his personal experiences as life saving tools to help others.

As he moves into the mystic, Larry will be known by his fellow angels as a man who knows how to love and teach by his gentleness with a voice that when sung, will move them all to tears of joy.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, November 21st at 2 p.m. at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Biltmore Village.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Four Seasons Hospice in Flat Rock, N.C.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Asheville Citizen-Times on Nov. 11, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Larry Formato

27 Entries

November 25, 2012

It was a waving relationship I had with Larry over the years on this beautiful mountain.
He stopped once about two years ago and said that it would be only right if we knew each others' names since we had been saying hello so long with wavings of cheer.
His name he said was Larry. I gave him mine,we shook hands and took delight in being here in that moment. I told him that my son and husband also had his name and love of music. Especially my
son for whom the playing of music and the listening to it is life's blood.

I had not seen Larry in his wonderful yellow car in a good while and then reading of his death, the missing of him became such heavy sadness not having fully realized how much those delightful waves and his exuberant face and wonderful smile had meant to me.Never knowing that he was sick.
I hope that I am not intruding, but I did want to let ya'll know that those waving years with him were gifts of joy!
I am so sorry that he is gone. I will miss him.

My deepest sympathy to ya'll.

Mara O. Evans
Town Mountain

Annie Partusch/Talley

November 22, 2012

My daughter wrote and recorded this song. I can't put anything in words that hasn't already been said but when I hear this song now I think of Larry. I guess it's fitting that I honor his memory with music. I feel lucky to have known him so many years ago. http://soundcloud.com/nikki_talley/sets/nikki-talley-beautiful-charmer/

Peggy Gardner

November 21, 2012

Smiles and magic, such good memories of Larry. My condolences to his family. All who crossed his path were blessed.

November 21, 2012

Beauty and magic, good descriptions of an amazing man. My condolences to his family -- everyone who crossed his path was blessed.
Peggy Gardner

Jo Buck

November 20, 2012

Larry in springtime – daffodils and forsythia
Larry in summertime – kites and seagulls
Larry in autumn – red maple leaves
Larry in winter – grouchy
Larry was highly intuitive, very sensitive, vibrant, fiery, humorous, sincere, attentive, uninhibited...a prodigy. He possessed a naturally bright mind and was a gifted music man. His personality was three-dimensional and multi-colored. He was a prince, a warrior, a super-hero and a true star. Larry personified his sun sign like the Page of Wands – the shining flame – the rose of the palace fire. He was the poetry man. He made things all right.

Judy Hamill

November 20, 2012

Hawkshaw Fuman AND The Reality Border Patrol ? 1972 ? Mark Dillard on base and Mark Blount on drums ? Who played the banjo ? ... I remember "Friend of the Devil"

Emily Anderson Reasoner

November 20, 2012

As I recall, he was a member of the Reality Border Patrol as well as Red Wing. Such a talent.

Merideth Lovejoy

November 19, 2012

I only knew Larry for about seven years, but he touched my heart and soul forever. Charismatic and self-assured, he graciously shared his inner soul, expertise in music, worldly possessions if needed, and opinion on everything from politics to human behavior.

His musical aptitude was exceptional, even more so considering he was self-taught. His finger-picking was some of the best on the planet. How lucky were we that enjoyed even a small part of his song-writing and performing. Larry could spontaneously put together a tune and words on a moment's inspiration - sometimes to be written down and recorded and sometimes just to provoke uncontrolled laughter.

Never at a loss for a quirky story from his past, he "held court" on countless occasions. His life story was rich with originality, always pushing the proverbial envelope.

I will always be grateful for Larry's emotional support and encouragement to "do the next right thing."

He loved his family so very much. I send my deepest sympathies for their loss.

Jim Dalton

November 18, 2012

When Larry hired me for the adventure of working for Professional Sales, he was undoubtedly the coolest guy I had met to that point. His good looks; the vest and tie, suede boots, sunglasses, Merits, the blue Grand Prix.. and his hair was perfect. But it didn't take long though for me to appreciate Larry as the gentleman he was. Larry's kindness, his musical nature, his confident yet humble manner, his broad knowledge of "things", his sly humor and his positive aura made Larry a very significant person for myself and many others. See you later friend.

Brendan Blake

November 16, 2012

I remember Larry. He was always a straight-up kinda guy...a good man.

Susan Cothran

November 16, 2012

Larry will always hold a special place in my heart. He was as beautiful and as wonderful inside and out as the music he made for us all. My condolences to his family.

Gordon Hurst

November 16, 2012

Larry was someone I looked up to as a young boy growing into adulthood! He will be missed very much. But his legacy will live on with those that knew him!

Judy Hamill

November 14, 2012

To put it simply, Larry was special. He certainly occupies a unique place in my heart and in my life.
His music, of course, was his life and central to his entire being. It is impossible to separate any part of Larry from “the music”. I loved living with all those wonderful, homemade songs; but, he truly excelled as a guitar player. Larry had the fingers of Eric Clapton, attached to the lips, body and style of Mick Jagger.
For want of a better word, Larry was charismatic. That characteristic is probably why he was so good a counseling, which he said he felt was the reason he had been put on this earth. It applied across genders and species. When he worked as a vet tech, in Colorado, there was never a dog that didn't respond when he spoke “dogola”. However, it was the girls (me included) who found him irresistible. When we met, in Algebra class in 1963, all the girls were a-twitter about the new boy in school. That didn't seem to change much over the next half century.
One phrase I have often applied to Larry is that he was “unusually physically adept” – which included a large dose of attitude, as well. One day, shortly after we moved to Eldorado Canyon in early 1971, we saw a group of climbers whispering in awe of “the Spider Man”, who was in the midst of an indescribably difficult bouldering problem ... unaided. Within about six weeks, the same group of climbers was whispering in awe of Larry, who was doing the same problem – also unaided to about thirty feet above the ground. During the entire time we lived there, I saw numerous people try this same problem, but no one else really got off the ground.

He's the reason I believe in magic.

Barbara Kern-Busey

November 13, 2012

Larry was my brothers age but I remember him well.Friends & I would sneak out & go to Bardeaux Plane or Middle Earth, to see him play. He was stikingly handsome & very talented. My thoughts go out to family and friends.

Ben Powers

November 13, 2012

I met Larry at the Day School in 1963. He will always be remembered for his shinning ,fun loving personality .Rest in peace my friend!

Alice Gregory

November 13, 2012

Dear Larry,

You sang the Heart Song for the Formato Family, with interwoven themes of love, creativity, boundless wit, beauty and compassion. Just by 'being' you demonstrated the great joy in living. Those who knew you received a priceless gift for you were ever generous in sharing your thoughts, talents and love. You were a model for others inspiring them to live their dreams. Larry, you touched the
world lightly, yet made a huge impact. You live on in the memories of many more souls than you could ever have imagined.

Katie Kremer

November 12, 2012

There never was and will never be anyone in the world like our Larry Ray...he lives in my heart forever

November 12, 2012

Rest in peace. Larry. I am blessed to have known you, "L Bug"

Lori Formato

November 11, 2012

I met Larry in 1997, and from day I met him, he treated me like a sister. Every holiday, we would all wait at my Mother in Law's, until "Uncle Larry" would arrive, and our kids would go nuts... "Uncle Larry!!! Uncle Larry!!!!" and he would play with them, until they were all exhausted. He was so sweet and kind, and we miss him so much.

Roger Mitchel

November 11, 2012

I grew up with Larry----Reid H. and the gang around beaver lake. We crossed paths intermittently in the 60's
then lost touch. I have fond memories of those times. I was sorry to hear of his parting. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I know he's enjoying his new space.

Kathryn Crawford

November 11, 2012

The world has lost a very special man and I wish to express my deepest sympathy to Larry's family. I knew him through my sister, Sallye, and he was so funny and sweet, a truly gifted musician and loved by everyone whose life he touched.

Lily Formato

November 11, 2012

my Uncle Larry was always so awesome to me and my little brother. We love him so much.

Richard Formato

November 11, 2012

Larry was a great big brother and friend who taught me kindness and love, and he was a wonderful Uncle to my children. He is missed beyond words.

Joyce Bryant

November 11, 2012

I am so sorry to hear of Larry's passing. I know the family may not remember me but I worked for MR Formato at Carlon Products in the early 70's. We are thinking about your family.

Eva Blankenship

November 11, 2012

My name is Eva Blankenship,The picture of Larry Is what caught my attention, How handsom, then I read about his life and wished I had known this wonderful person and could say he was my friend. Im so sorry for your loss.

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