Obituaries
Veteran, Patriot, Grandfather Dies at 67
Roger Lee Grinnell will be laid to rest Saturday, Dec. 21.
A veteran and patriot who lived his love for country, Roger Lee Grinnell died Saturday, Dec. 14. He was 67.
Mr. Grinnell was the youngest son of Clairmont Livesey Grinnell, Jr. and Mildred Anna Gladding. He was married to Patricia Ann Sullivan (Newport), and was the proud father and father-in-law to Dawn Michol Grinnell (Portsmouth), Jacqueline Leigh Grinnell Ruggieri and Ronald Ruggieri (Portsmouth), Rebecca Lynn Hennion and Carleton W. Hennion (Warwick) and the loving grandfather of 4 grandchildren. He leaves his brothers Ronald Grinnell and wife Penelope of Middletown, David Grinnell and his partner Victor Ranieri, both of Newport and Palm Springs, CA and sister-in-law Aniceta Souza of Newport.
Mr. Grinnell retired from the US Coast Guard Reserve with the military rank of Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9). While with the Coast Guard, he served during Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf of Arabia, being the 1st boat to open the Port of Kuwait City Canal. He was a jeweler with the J. H. Breakell & Co. Jewelry Company of Newport, Rhode Island and worked for years as a foreign car technician in the Newport and Middletown, Rhode Island area.
Mr. Grinnell was a noted photographer, sailor and amateur meteorologist. A true New England Yankee, his profound love for America and its history were deeply embedded in his very core. Roger thought of himself daily as a Patriot. He later joined the distinct Newport Artillery Company and was known by many as a modern day Paul Revere. His love for singing and performing was graciously embraced by the revered Newport Navy Choristers. He sung for some 20 years while helping to raise awareness and funds to Newport County’s Boys & Girls Club, and many more charitable organizations.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, Dec. 20, 4-7 p.m., in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. His funeral will take place on Saturday, Dec. 21, 11 a.m., in the Memorial Funeral Home, followed by his burial in Trinity Cemetery, East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Click here to read the full obituary and sign Memorial Funeral Home's trubute wall.
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