John M. Grandin

Dr. John Martin Grandin, 84, of Wakefield, Rhode Island and Ocean Park, Maine died on November 18, 2024, from Lewy Body Dementia. He was the son of the late Hartley Grandin and Ruth (Olsen) of Holden, Massachusetts. John is survived by his wife, Carol of 59 years, his son Peter and wife Jenn, grandchildren Ashley, Abbey, and Ethan. He is survived by a daughter, Michelle.

John was a graduate of Kalamazoo College in Michigan and received a Master of Arts in Teaching from Wesleyan University. After Wesleyan, John taught German at Union College in Schenectady New York before beginning his doctoral studies. He received his Ph. D in Germanic Studies from The University of Michigan.

His post-doctoral career began in the German Department at the University of Rhode Island (URI) in 1970. This began his journey developing groundbreaking programs at the university.

For example, John created The German Summer School of the Atlantic to prepare students for study abroad. This six-week immersion course in German language and culture was a stepping stone for students ready to experience foreign study. In 1995, John established a cross-disciplinary forum for engineering. The Annual Colloquium on International Engineering Education brought educators and industry leaders together. As is the case with so much John established, the annual event has grown in significance.

John was well known and respected at URI in his forty years of service. He held many positions that always revolved around students’ needs. He served as Associate Dean of Students and Curriculum followed by Acting Dean of Arts and Science. That led to the establishment and directorship of the International Engineering Program (IEP) at URI which was established in 1987. This five-year program integrates a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) major in a language and includes a year studying abroad. The year abroad encompasses a semester study and an internship in a company. This has become an International model preparing engineers for the global marketplace. The IEP is thriving today with students studying in six languages.

He was Co-Chair of the IEP Advisory Board throughout his tenure and beyond at URI and he kept in contact with former students during many travels to Germany, France, Italy, Spain and China.

The Federal Republic of Germany awarded John their highest civilian honor for his service in transatlantic relations between the United States and Germany. He was very proud of the Bundesverdienstkreuz, the Federal Cross of Merit.

Recognizing his pioneering efforts on behalf of URI students in languages and engineering a house was named for John. The John Grandin House stands proudly on Upper College Road in Kingston, Rhode Island. This house is a living and learning environment for IEP students.

In 2019 John was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Engineering from URI. This award represented the pride the university had for his contribution to international engineering. He was very proud of the award and commented on how ironic it was that a German Professor received an award in engineering.

He was also a member of the Kingston Congregational Church for many years and a deacon.

In the late 1970s, John’s career took a brief detour. He and his brother, Hartley, took on a summer job developing land and building six houses on Rockland Drive in Wakefield. This was the first development with underground utilities in the town of South Kingstown. John and Carol built their own passive solar house on Rockland Drive. Although it may seem disconnected to his career at URI, it was, in fact, a direct link to his success in engineering. The next door neighbor, Hermann Viets, was Chairman of the Engineering Department at URI. As a native German, Hermann was excited about cross-discipline collaboration between languages and engineering. John and Hermann worked together to begin the concept of the IEP.

John often joked about his construction experience as his edifice phase. Through this construction effort John was well-prepared to repurpose an abandoned fraternity house that became the John Grandin House. Through fundraising and a generous donation from Heidi Kirk Duffy, Chair of the Advisory Board, the IEP house took shape.

With all his accomplishments, John was soft-spoken and humble. He attributed that to his upbringing as a son of a Baptist Minister.

John loved to be at the family cottage in Ocean Park, Maine. He and Carol met in Ocean Park, their houses diagonally across from one another. This long life together began by John tutoring Carol in German before her study abroad. His many traits and talents were adored by his family.

A walk to the beach, a swim in the cold water of the Atlantic, body surfing and long walks at low tide. He taught the grandkids how to body surf. He wasn’t above a bit of silly behavior. He would hang a spoon on his nose, even in a restaurant. Now everyone in the family has taken up the challenge. He dressed up as the Queen’s Butler, made his wonderful pancakes and convinced the grandkids and their cousins that he had just flown in from England. The English accent added to the fun. Wiggling his ears, one at a time, consumed an entire year of elementary school. Just another challenge for the family to perfect. John balanced silliness with tenderness and support for his family.

John was very proud of his Swedish heritage. He enjoyed studying and speaking Swedish. He kept in contact with his Swedish relatives and visited several times, taking the grandkids, Carol, and Peter on his last trip. He spoke Swedish at the family reunion, surprising and delighting all the Grandin relatives.

After retirement, John and Carol bought a house with six acres of woodland. Using his tractor, he loved clearing brush, splitting and stacking wood. At Peter’s nursery he even attained a commercial driving license so he could deliver supplies to customers. He repaired irrigation systems, potted plants, and cleared weeds. A lot of the trees in the front field at Grandin Farms were propagated by John. His work was a wonderful donation for Peter and his family during the start of a new business. At Christmas, he dressed up as Santa, sat on a tractor and waved to the passers-by.

He even appreciated the mechanics and design of antique cars and trucks. He could fix and repair these antiques before the age of computers. He would fix one up, sell it and buy another. John’s family is heartbroken by his death. His disease of Lewy Body Dementia was difficult to observe but he handled his disease with dignity. He resolved to push on as long as he was able.

He leaves a giant hole in the hearts of his family.

As was his wish, there will be a celebration of his life at URI in the late spring. Burial will be private in the family plot in Maine.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John Grandin IEP Directorship Fund through the URI Foundation.