Paul Calnan Grady

October 22, 1964 - September 4, 2017

Paul Grady, lifetime resident of San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood of Telegraph Hill, passed away peacefully on September 4, 2017 at home with his brother, Owen Grady at his side. He is preceded by his father Robert Grady, his mother Maryann Grady, his sister Katherine Grady, and his half brother Bob Grady.

Born on October 22, 1964, Paul grew up on Union Street in the Telegraph Hill neighborhood of North Beach. He attended grammar school at Saints Peter and Paul, then Sacred Heart Preparatory and Galileo High School. He had a career as a cook at landmark San Francisco restaurants including Fog City diner and Enrico’s. He lived in North Beach’s Romolo Arms, where he was the building manager for 32 years.

Paul pursued his passions for San Francisco history, photography, luxury ships, coin collecting, and live music throughout his life. He attended 20 Frank Sinatra shows and 25 Rolling Stone concerts, amassing an archive of live recordings from shows throughout the years. His first Stones concert was in 1975 at the Cow Palace at the age of 10. Paul also followed San Francisco social icon and writer Herb Caen and participated in the production of “The World of Herb Caen San Francisco 1938-1997” with one of his photos featured in the book.

If San Francisco was a museum, Paul was one of its curators. He was an avid collector; his apartment was appointed with wall-to-wall artwork, news clippings, concert posters, and iconic San Francisco memorabilia that he had lovingly collected over the years. A dedicated photographer, his walls were a showcase for his images of the luxury liners he loved to watch from Coit Tower. In December of 1978 Paul and his mother sailed on the Queen Elizabeth 2 for her Transatlantic crossing from Europe to New York.

Having lived his whole life in the neighborhood, he was a beloved fixture of the North Beach community and a regular at Specs and Vesuvio. On October 15th North Beach celebrated Paul’s life and spirit with a gathering of friends and family at Vesuvio followed by a procession, led by the North Beach Brass Band, to Washington Square Park and a reception at Specs.

“See ya back at the house” PCG

Paul is survived by his brother Owen Grady, his half-sister Sharon Enea, and his niece Justine Perrin.