On the happy day of August 21, 1946, John Lance Grant entered this world. Too soon, on the very sad day of July 23, 2018, at only 71 years old, John left the world. He was the kindest and gentlest of men.
John was born and raised in San Diego, CA. He was the son of the late Robert Grant, Jr. and Leah Brown Grant, also of San Diego. He graduated from Point Loma High School, and then attended San Diego State University as a philosophy major. In 1967, John joined the Peace Corps and served for two years in South Korea. He was a rural health worker, fighting Korea’s number one killer at the time, tuberculosis. It was during training for the Peace Corps at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, NM, that he met his wife, Joan Witt.
Following the Peace Corps, they lived in Churubusco, NY, for eight years, where their two sons, Jordan and Ian were born, and then in Malone NY, for seven more years. John was a master gardener. On his gentleman’s farm, he grew organic vegetables, raised beef and chickens, and bred goats. At the same time he worked for North Star Industries, a nonprofit organization that served physically and mentally disabled adults.
He and his family moved to Eastham, MA, on Cape Cod in 1986, where he continued his work at Nauset Workshop, now Cape Abilities. In 1994, they moved to Orleans. John earned a Master’s Degree at Russell Sage, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He worked for 14 years at Cape Cod Community College both as a grant writer and as Director of Institutional Research and Development.
John had a brilliant mind, and was a lover of books. He was a political junky, a student of history, a painter, a writer, and a musician.
He loved his family above all else. He was a perfect father and model for his sons, a loving husband, a dear and gentle Opa, and a kind and generous friend to all.
John leaves his wife, Joan Grant of Orleans, his son, Jordan Grant and daughter-in-law Emily Villagio Grant of Scituate, MA, his son Ian Grant and daughter-in-law Amy Gibson-Grant of Takoma Park, MD, five grandchildren, Cassidy, Matilda, Zoe, Owen, and Mia, brother Nicholas Grant, sister and brother-in-law Lucy and Michael Vance, sister and brother-in-law Laura and Hugh Largey, and several nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed. He gave us everything he had.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later time. Donations in his name can be made to Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, N.M., and Hope Hospice at 73 Service Road, Sandwich, MA
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