Obituary of Russell Victor Gran

Russell Victor Gran Jr. was born in Duluth on April 30, 1936. Son of Russell V. Gran Sr. and Mary (Kier) Gran, he graduated from Denfeld in 1954 (Valedictorian) and UMD in 1958 (Valedictorian). After a short teaching career, Russell moved to Hartford, Connecticut in 1959 and was an underwriter for the Traveler's Insurance Co. While in Hartford, he took graduate courses in literature and painting at Trinity College and the University of Hartford. In 1971, Russell moved to Boston to work as an underwriter for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. After retiring, he moved back to Duluth. He then earned a master's degree in studio arts from UMD (where he also taught introduction to painting classes). He resided at the Washington Studios Artist Cooperative for over 25 years where he befriended and mentored a generation of young artists. Endlessly curious and driven to create, his gruff exterior was merely a facade for a wonderfully humorous, sensitive and loving being. Russell is survived by his brother, Tracy R. Gran Sr., and a sister-in-law, Janice E. Gran, both of Winterport, Maine; a niece, Jennifer Gran of Carthage, Maine; a nephew, Tracy R. Gran Jr. of Bangor, Maine; and a great-nephew, Jacob R. Gran of Frankfort, Maine. The Gran family will be forever indebted to the kindness (and "patience") of his dearest friends, Eric Dubnicka and Ryan Vine. Please, join us in celebrating his life and art on the evening of June 22nd at the Washington Studios Artist Cooperative. Russel V. Gran: A Lift's Retrospective will run three hours, from 5 to 8, with remarks at 6. Cremation by the Cremation Society of Minnesota.