Philip Dean Grisier
October 5, 1954 - June 13, 2017
Philip Dean Grisier passed away in San Francisco on the morning of June 13, 2017 after a long and spirited battle with cancer. Born in San Diego, California, on October 5, 1954 he was the only child of Donald Wendell Grisier and Marian Rose Harrington (nee Cunningham) – both music majors from Bowling Green University in Ohio.
Phil (as he was known to one and all) grew up mostly in San Diego and graduated with a BA in Speech/ Communications from the University of Oregon. He studied theater Design at New York University for a year thereafter and returned to California and worked in a variety of jobs relating to film production in Los Angeles. Ultimately Phil landed in the San Francisco Bay Area in January 1996 and began a very successful career in the software industry – initially as a systems developer/architect and then as a technical writer. He was well-regarded and respected by all those who worked with him as a competent and talented professional.
Outside of work, Phil had a wide array of interests, hobbies and causes that he pursued with the same vigor, earnestness and grace as he did all other aspects of his life. Foremost among these was his passion for music – not just because it was in his genes but also because he was blessed with the voice of an angel. He was a chorus member for 9 years, Bass Section Lead for 2 years and Board Member at Large for the San Francisco City Chorus. He was also a regular voice in the choir at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. Always charismatic, polite and a real gentleman, he was a truly multi-faceted individual – universally loved and adored by all those who knew him. He was very passionate about the arts and worked actively for the archives of the San Francisco Opera. His stance on liberal politics was well known and he volunteered for the DNC during the 2008 and 2012 elections. He was a champion for those less fortunate and volunteered time and money to the SF-Marin Food Bank. Between work and his charitable endeavors, Phil loved traveling, camping, sailing, and skiing while living his life with a remarkable combination of purpose, grace, dignity and humanity.
Phil was a shining example of how to live life fully and with good cheer despite staggering adversities and daunting setbacks. He will be missed by a large legion of people across the nation – friends, relatives and acquaintances alike – all of whose lives were enriched by his presence.
According to his wishes, Phil was laid to rest beside his father at the Oakwood Cemetery on Tuesday, June 27 from the Grisier Funeral Home in 109 S Defiance St, Stryker, Ohio.
A memorial service will be held at 4PM on Saturday, August 20, 2017 at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church located at 201 Eucalyptus Drive, San Francisco.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of three charities dear to Phil’s heart:
1. Lakeside Presbyterian Church, 201 Eucalyptus Drive, San Francisco 94132
2. San Francisco Food Bank, 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, San Francisco 94107
3. San Francisco Symphony, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco 94102
“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”