THIS WAS LAVALLE'S MEMORY BOOK PAGE; HE PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY TODAY AND IS NOW WITH ANTHONY AND HIS BROTHER CORY.

  Lavalle was born to Wynetta and Charles Ashley owners of the Shrimp Boat chain of restaurants in Cleveland. He had a younger brother Corlanders who graduated from Shaker in  1969. Sadly Cory passed away in 1993 at age 41. 

Lavalle worked many years at the Shrimp Boat putting himself through Kent State. But while he was in high school he was a star running back for the Shaker varsity football team until a knee injury in his senior year due to a pothole on the field.  Lavalle was a man of many talents. He played the piano, he played tennis and he’s very witty. Lavalle moved to California in 1980 with his first  wife. After their divorce he decided to stay with the sunshine and he’s glad he did because he met his current wife Luisa in December 1985. They were married in 1991 and had a beautiful son Michael in 1995. Lavalle adopted Luisa's lovely son Anthony, who was 7 years old when they met. They sadly lost Anthony at the age of 21 to the epidemic of gun violence when he became an innocent victim of a robbery in Highland Park, California. Lavalle went with his wife to support groups and helped in her healing as he was trying to  heal himself. He was always supportive and an excellent husband and father! He was strong and focused. He coached his son’s basketball and football teams and helped with all the neighborhood children growing up, all while running his own business.  

This is written in the past tense, because although Lavalle is still with us, he also is not, due to late stage Alzheimer’s disease he is in hospice and board and care. If he was well, he would be at the 50th reunion dancing the night away! But he will be there in spirit so please remember his handsome smile and kind heart! He was always so personable and full of personality!