Gareth Peter Paul Grala

Gareth Peter Paul Grala, 57, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Gareth was born Nov. 12, 1961, in New York City, New York. He was raised in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, eventually moving to Belleville, IL at the age of 8. Gary spent most of his youth in Belleville where his interests and commitment to the martial arts earned him a 1st degree blackbelt in Tai Kwan Doe by the age of 13, but Gary’s true passion for music became obvious at an even earlier age. Graduating from Belleville East High school, he played drums in the high school marching band and was taught to play piano by his Aunt Dinorah Velez, an accomplished pianist and music teacher herself. While attending Belleville Area College, Gary “went on the road” touring the mid-west with the rock and roll bands, Baden Rhode, MEDIA, and Plan 'B'. Gary’s talents as a keyboard player, MIDI expert, and performer were always very well received, and he was a respected musician in the studio as well. In 1991, Gary moved to Florida to continue his musical career, and soon attended Full Sail University, where he graduated, and shortly after went on to become a teaching staff member at the university. Gary was an artist: a composer, musician, writer, arranger, and producer whose work included independent film scores as well as countless audio and video productions, covering many genres with his eclectic style and precise attention to detail. He was deeply loved by his parents, Peter Grala (deceased) and Priscilla Grala; sister, Lynette Calcaterra and husband, Dennis Calcaterra; niece, Priscille Dando and husband, Kevin Dando; great niece, Ellen Dando; niece, Eunice Koehne (deceased); nephew, Keith Calcaterra; and his extended family: aunt, Dinorah Velez-Lugo (deceased); the Fennewald families, the Romano families, the Robert families, the Epstein families, Witcher families; his parakeets, Pasha and Shapo (deceased); and many lifelong friends and extended family. Services will be held at 11:00a.m., Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in Oviedo, FL. Burial will follow at All Faiths Cemetery, Casselberry, FL. Flowers may be sent to Most Precious Blood Catholic Church at 113 Lockwood Avenue, Oviedo, FL 32766, for delivery on 10/14/19 by 10:00am.