Joe Grippi

Joe Grippi, 85, passed away October 7, 2010 at his Sierra Madre home surrounded, as he lived, by his loved ones. Mr. Grippi was a longtime resident of Sierra Madre, being born July 10, 1925 to Cosma and Joseph Grippi at their home on North Mountain Trail. Other than a stint in the U.S. Navy during World War II and a brief residence in Monrovia, Mr. Grippi lived in Sierra Madre his entire life. The first child baptized in St. Rita's Spanish style church, Mr. Grippi attended Sierra Madre Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Junior High and John Muir and Monrovia high schools, from which he graduated. Like many of his generation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942, saw service on a destroyer in the South Pacific and trained gunners at the Navy center in Dahlgren, Va., among other duties. After an honorable discharge in 1946, he returned to Sierra Madre, where he began his family. Mr. Grippi worked for the U.S. Post Office before beginning a career as an independent distributor for the Los Angeles Times newspaper, covering Sierra Madre and parts of Pasadena and Arcadia. He was intimately connected to his hometown, serving for nine years as chairman of the city's Parks and Recreation Commission during the 1960s and playing integral roles in the building of the Community Recreation Center at Sierra Vista Park, Dapper Field, the development and protected-area designation of Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park. He also was a longtime member of the Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club, serving as president in 1964. Following his retirement from the Los Angeles Times, Mr. Grippi worked for a short time with the postal service before beginning a retired life filled with travel, gardening, cooking and other pursuits. A lifetime baseball player and fan, Mr. Grippi helped guide many young men into adulthood as a youth baseball coach in Sierra Madre and Pasadena in the 1960s and 1970s. Mr. Grippi was a longtime season ticket holder for UCLA football and enjoyed evenings at Dodger Stadium. An avid reader, Mr. Grippi also enjoyed attending events at the Los Angeles Music Center. Mr. Grippi was preceded in death by sisters Margie and Annie, and brothers Joseph and John. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Barbara; four children, daughters Linda Grippi, Margie Lorusso, Beth Brady and son Vince Grippi; seven grandchildren; and brother David Groth. Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 10:00 am at Church of the Ascencion in Sierra Madre. Burial will be in the Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Grippi has asked for memorial donations to be made to the Church of the Ascension, 25 E. Laurel Ave, Sierra Madre, Calif., 91024 in care of the Very Reverend Michael A. Bamberger, to honor Rev. Bamberger's service to the residents of Sierra Madre.