Roger Lee Grinnell

Roger Lee Grinnell, was born September 14, 1946 the, youngest son of Clairmont Livesey Grinnell, Jr. and Mildred Anna Gladding. Roger 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 departs leaving 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. He now joins his eldest brother Alfred ("Skip") Grinnell, formerly of Newport and Massachusetts, in the next life. Roger leaves many nieces and nephews, both related, and those that were like his family. He was a beloved uncle, friend, and colleague to many. His slapstick sense of humor and wit were known to all! Roger 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.Roger's passions and talents were vast and many, most of which were captured daily either in black white, color, print or video, as he was never seen without a camera around him. Being an ol' sea salty he loved and revered the Atlantic Ocean and enjoyed being a "Coastie" and avid sailor/adventurist with his brother Ronald. His brother David inspired his devotion toward family genealogical studies. 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.His love for meteorological studies and the hearty New England climate often led to the most accurate predictions regarding blizzards and hurricanes. Along with his predictions, he took on the heroic neighborly duties of snow blowing everyone's driveways along with his own. Roger was self-educated on many levels, and often advocated for those without a voice. His zeal for the truth and knowledge left him unmatched.Most importantly, his true passion for living became evident at the birth of his 4 grandchildren: Cameron, Mia, Cooper and Lorelei. As a devoted grandfather, he was known lovingly as "Reese", and his grandchildren became his muse and reason for living in his later years!Roger was an 8th great grandson of Matthew Grenelle and his wife Rose French, as well as a descendant of Roger Williams and Anne Marbury Hutchinson. Roger was also a member of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution, the Society of the Sons of the Revolution and the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America through Matthew Grenelle, Founder and Robert Grinnell, Patriot.He will be greatly missed. His cherished American flag hangs at half-mast in his front yard as a salute and tribute to his life at the time of this publication.Calling hours will be held on Friday, December 20, 2013, from 4-7pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI.His funeral will take place on Saturday, December 21, 2013, at 11am in the Memorial Funeral Home, followed by his burial in Trinity Cemetery, East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI.In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org Cemetery Details Trinity Cemetery East Main Road Portsmouth, RI, 02871 Visitation DEC 20. 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com Service DEC 21. 11:00 AM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com