GRANDEL, FRANK R.

Frank R. Grandel, 97, beloved teacher and coach, passed away peacefully on November 18th following a brief illness. He was 97. Born on October 6, 1921 in Stony Creek at the home of Rosario and Concetta Trifiletti Grandel, the youngest of 11 children. He graduated from Branford High School in 1941, where he played Varsity baseball. He attended Arnold College (University of Bridgeport) on the GI Bill, graduating in 1949. He received his MA from NYU in 1951 and later earned his 6th Year from UCONN. A proud member of The Greatest Generation, Frank served in WWII, enlisting in the Army in 1942. He served in the Special Signal Forces, at Bexley, Kent, England and Russelsheim, Germany until 1946. Frank taught in the Branford school system from 1949 until 1990. He was an institution at Branford High School, where he taught History, Driver’s Ed, coached three sports, and was an administrator. He was inducted into Branford’s Education Hall of Fame in 2014. Frank later joined Project More in New Haven, an agency helping ex-offenders re-enter the work force. He worked under Warren Kimbro, a former Black Panther. The two became very close friends until Warren’s death in 2009. Frank retired after 20 years at 92. He was dedicated to helping others until the very end of his life. He is pre-deceased by his siblings and his wife of 52 years, Nancy A. Gillies Grandel. He is survived by his daughters Gayle “Gigi” Grandel Hayden, Mallie Massaro, Vickie Blake and Suzanne Griffin and his five grandchildren.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held on Saturday, January 5th at 10 a.m. at St Therese Church in Branford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Branford High School, with memo for the Frank R. Grandel Scholarship Fund, 185 East Main Street, Branford, CT 06405, Att: Jean Brookman. Complete obituary at memorial@www.wsclancy.com.