Grossman, Larry

• Grossman, Lawrence Sheldon

Lawrence 'Larry' Grossman, lawyer and politician, was born 2 December 1943 in Toronto. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1964, Osgoode Hall Law School in 1967, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1969. In 1975, he succeeded his father, Allan Grossman, as Member of Provincial Parliament for the Toronto riding of St. Andrew-St. Patrick. They represented the riding for a combined 32 years, from 1955-1987.

At Queens’ Park, he held numerous Cabinet portfolios: Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations (Sep. 1977-Oct. 1978); Minister of Industry and Tourism (Oct. 1978-Feb. 1982); Minister of Health (Feb. 1982-Jul. 1983); Treasurer of Ontario and Minister of Economics (Jul. 1983-May 1985); Minister of Education and Colleges & Universities (May-June 1985); Provincial Secretary for Social Development (May-June 1985); Government House Leader (May-June 1985).

Following the resignation of Ontario Premier Bill Davis on 8 October 1984, Grossman campaigned to become leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario but lost to Frank Miller on the third ballot at the January 1985 Party Convention. Following the May 1985 Ontario general election and the formation of an NDP-Liberal coalition government, the Progressive Conservatives became the Official Opposition and Frank Miller resigned as Party Leader. Grossman succeeded Miller and became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and Leader of the Official Opposition in November 1985.

He resigned from politics following the Ontario general election of September 1987. Following his exit from politics, he resumed his legal career and served on corporate and charitable boards of directors including the Canada Post Corporation, Stadium Corporation of Ontario, CFMT-TV, Doctor's Hospital, and B'Nai Brith Canada.

Additionally, he was a frequent public speaker, giving talks on topical issues such as politics, education, insurance, financial institutions, and health care. He was the Barker Fairley Distinguished Visitor for 1993 at University College at the University of Toronto. He served as an adviser to Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leader Mike Harris during the Ontario general elections of 1990 and 1995. He was also an avid baseball and Toronto Blue Jays fan and authored the book "A baseball addict's diary : the Blue Jays' 1991 rollercoaster" (Toronto: Penguin Books, 1991). Larry Grossman died in Toronto on 22 June 1997.

2016-03-04: E. Sommers