As if the quarantine was not enough to fill our day with sadness, we have lost another true skateboarding legend.
R.I.P. Jeff Grosso. 1968-2020
“Today we have the terrible task of saying a heartbreaking goodbye to beloved verticalist, commentator and friend of the mag Jeff Grosso. The Brat, Mothra, Grossman or just plain Jeff, Grosso went from number-one amateur to ’80s superstar to cautionary tale and back again. His latest role as lovable curmudgeon, host of his own history-packed web series and keeper of skateboarding’s righteousness, unafraid to offend or annoy in his quest to educate, was by far his greatest—second only to being Oliver’s dad. Ripping ’til the end, he became an unlikely mentor to the generations that followed—from Muska and Tom, to Lizzie and Brighton. Jeff could be as gentle and sincere as he could be hilarious and hard (on the coping and himself). He always skated with style. His grinds were long, his backside airs were head-high and his handplants were stalled out and sadder than a funeral. He will be sorely, sorely missed. Our hearts go out to his family and many friends. RIP, Grosso.” —Michael Burnett – Thrasher Magazine 04-01-20
Grosso was considered one of the top boarders in the 80s. Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk remembered Grosso as “a true skateboarder at his core” in an Instagram post.
“I believe Jeff is a big reason that anyone truly cares, and skateboarding was lucky to have him as an ambassador and gatekeeper to its history,” Hawk wrote.
Hawk said he had skated with Grosso and was occasionally a guest on his “Love Letters to Skateboarding” video series on YouTube. Grosso began hosting the series in 2011 and his final episode was posted on March 12.
Grosso will be severely missed in the skateboard community to say the least. A vert ramp sized hole has been punched in our hearts.
Say hello to Phelpers for all of us! Ride in Peace Grosso!
