Larry died today of complications related to type II diabetes. His death is not much of a shock. He had been in ill health for a long time and just recently had both of his legs amputated just below the knee. Nonetheless, his passing is deeply painful for those of us who knew him.

I knew Larry Miller for 30 years. My Dad and he did many business deals together in the Salt Lake valley and beyond. I remember attending Jazz games at the Salt Palace - a tiny and primitive arena that the Jazz played in long before the Delta Center (or whatever it is called these days) was ever built. Later he and my Dad served together in the LDS church as part of a panel that organized and provided relief to disaster victims. They worked particularly close together in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Everyone knows about Larry's car dealerships and other business ventures. But few ever saw the tireless humanitarian work that he did and the many lives that he changed with his generosity. Larry was the kind of man who would see someone in trouble on the news - someone he didn't even know - and would call the station to offer help - anonymously of course.

I had a friend in college who was in Larry's congregation at church. He had gotten accepted into Harvard Medical School but he could not afford the steep tuition. After doing all he could to secure the funds, he just couldn't put it together. He had a wife and several children and student loans just wouldn't cover it. He had given up on his dream. After graduation we drifted apart and I did not hear from him for a year or so. Then one day I get a letter from him postmarked from Cambridge, Mass. He was at Harvard Medical School! He told me how Larry Miller had found out about his situation and offerred to pay his way. That friend of mine is now a prominent heart surgeon who works at the Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. I spoke to him today. Obviously, he was devastated by Larry's death. But will always have nothing but positive memories.

Larry attended my wedding, sent me yearly Christmas cards, and wrote me a congratulations letter when I graduated from law school. When I was a student at BYU Larry invited me to sit in his box at the Delta Center for dozens of Jazz games. He introduced me to John Stockton, Karl Malone, Mark Eaton, Adrian Dantley and other Jazz greats. Then he later invited me to sit in his box for the NBA Finals in both 1996 and 1998. What a generous gift! But Larry never sat in the box. He was a fixture near the floor cheering on his team and taking on anyone who heckled the Jazz. He cried when the Jazz lost those championships. He really loved the game, his players and the fans. He hated letting them down.

Larry was also a HUGE car fanatic. He always wanted to lure big-time auto racing to the SLC area. Towards this goal, he built the multi-million dollar Miller Motorsports Park just outside of Salt Lake City.

Larry was a good man who loved his family. He was a man of faith and believed in serving others. He was very passionate about all things that he did. That passion got him into a fix or two. But Larry always had the purest of intentions. He always wanted to help. He had a huge heart. He will be sorely missed.

Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller has died - ESPN

 

Being in the car business and from Utah this is sad indeed. RIP

 

great owner, very fair and good to his players. He will be missed R.I.P

 

Coming from a lifetime Laker fan, I have to say that Larry Miller was a class act and a true asset to the NBA. May he rest in peace.

 

amen. I think Derek Fisher is going to have his initials or something on his shoes from the rest of the season from what I read.