GILROY
– Lawrence McGrew, a former NFL linebacker who became known in
this town as a victim in an impersonation scam, has died. He was
46.
GILROY – Lawrence McGrew, a former NFL linebacker who became known in this town as a victim in an impersonation scam, has died. He was 46.

McGrew collapsed on Friday at his home in Lancaster, in north Los Angeles County. He was taken to a hospital where he died, said Lt. Cheryl MacWillie of the county coroner’s office. It will be six to eight weeks before toxicology reports – used to help determine a cause of death – are available, according to coroner’s spokesman Capt. David Campbell.

McGrew spent the bulk of his 11-year NFL career with the New England Patriots, who selected him in the second round of the 1980 draft out of the University of Southern California. He went to a Super Bowl in 1986 with New England and won one in 1991 with the New York Giants.

Last summer, Frederick McGrew of Colorado used Lawrence McGrew’s name and career statistics to get an assistant football coaching job at Gilroy’s Gavilan College. Head coach John Lango fired him in September after five weeks on the job, and the college’s athletic director reported him to Gilroy police immediately afterward.

After confessing to police he was not really the ex-pro, Frederick falsely told them Lawrence was his uncle. He repeated this claim at his initial court appearance, but the real Lawrence McGrew later told Gilroy police that Frederick is no relation of his.

On Dec. 4, Frederick McGrew changed his plea from not guilty to no contest. On Feb. 2, a Santa Clara County judge sentenced him to three years of supervised probation and 160 hours of community service.

The real Lawrence McGrew grew up in Berkeley and began his college career at nearby Contra Costa College in San Pablo before going on to star at Southern Cal. He made 138 tackles with the Trojans and started in two Rose Bowl games.

He is survived by his mother, wife, five children and a sister.

“We are deeply saddened with his passing,” New England Patriots spokesman Stacey James said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time.”

Alice Murray grew up next-door to McGrew in Berkeley. He and her little brother were playmates.

“It was really, really sad, because this was a kid we grew up with,” Murray said. “He and my little brother were always in and out of the house.”

Murray lives in Sacramento now, but her mother and McGrew’s mother are still neighbors in the same houses. Murray heard about McGrew’s death from her mother on Sunday.

It was only since Lawrence’s passing that Murray learned about Frederick McGrew’s impersonation.

“That’s pretty low-down, ’cause Lawrence, he was a cool dude; he really was,” Murray said.

Previous articleBest holiday of the year
Next articleMervyn’s may close Cochrane Plaza location

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here