Cool things your grandparents did

[SeattleUte]

I'm routinely negative re: my own parents so let's do something positive. Who cares if this is braggadocio? That's the point. They're your grandparents!

My paternal grandfather (god rest his soul) routinely guest conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, usually when paired with a chorus.

From 1965 to 1990, you couldn't go to the Metropolitan Opera without hearing one of his students perform. He was widely regarded in Europe and the US as the premier operatic vocal coach as well as making his Chicago-area university's music program a destination for soloists in-training.

His sephardic mother performed the part of Solveig in Greig's Peer Gynt in Oslo at the turn of the century and had a beautiful voice that inspired him to devote his life's career to female operatic performance.

His funeral was a "who's who" of opera of the last four decades.

I had no idea of his professional status/relevance until after he died.

Robert Hales, my dad's bishop growing up, told us that had grandpa stayed active, there was no doubt he would have been the Mo Tab director for decades.

Damn. This is one of the saddest things I have ever read on CUF. Seriously.

[Indy Coug]

My grandpa did one-armed pushups in his 70s. He was in great shape until a tumor decided to take over his brain.

My grandma waterskied into her 70s and golfed daily into her early 80s until her brain decided to start being less coherent. She and her sister have also been officially recognized by the Icelandic government for the significant amount of geneaology work they have done over the years.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Great thread. This is why I love this place.

My paternal grandfather is one of my favorite people. Riased in Chicago and then Boyle Heights of LA, he joined the military just prior to World War II. While stationed in Tooele, Utah. One evening, this young Jewish man, walked into the local movie house, spotted the attractive female usher, walked up to her and as a sign of introduction, kissed her and told her that he was going to marry her. "Due to a series of miracles" and a cyst on his tailbone, he was released from military duty just before he was to be sent over seas. His bunk mate had given him a Book of Mormon and despite being disowned by his parents, he joined the LDS church, eventually becoming the first Jewish convert to be called as a bishop. After leaving the service, he became a police officer and eventually started the Chaplain's Corps for the Salt Lake PD. Here's an article from the Deseret News when he had to retire due to budget cuts.

For the six months prior to my marriage, I had the privilege to care for and usher my hero from his home back and forth to the rehabilitation center so that he could spend a few minutes with that attractive female usher, 61 years later. An amazing and educational experience entering into my own marriage. Even though dementia slowly stole the man I knew and I regularly had to remind him who I was, he always recognized his "sweetheart" and lit up as I wheeled him into her room.

He passed away about 4 months after I got married and moved to Las Vegas.

[Shaka]

My grandfather was an aviation enthusiast who built his own airplanes. He was also one of the originators of Airport #2 in Salt Lake County. My dad used to grade the runway when he was a kid.

[SeattleUte]

My paternal grandfather was a born of recent Dutch immigrants; his older siblings were even Dutch. As a grocer, he aligned with Maurice Warshaw in mounting a successful legal challenge to Salt Lake's ordinance which required all retailers to close on Sunday. His little market on 6th South and State street sold incredible amounts of beer, mostly Coors for a long time then it became mostly Bud (after the Coors labor problems).

My maternal grandfather herded sheep in Northern Utah as a young man.

[LA Ute]

Great thread. This is why I love this place.

My paternal grandfather is one of my favorite people. Riased in Chicago and then Boyle Heights of LA, he joined the military just prior to World War II. While stationed in Tooele, Utah. One evening, this young Jewish man, walked into the local movie house, spotted the attractive female usher, walked up to her and as a sign of introduction, kissed her and told her that he was going to marry her. "Due to a series of miracles" and a cyst on his tailbone, he was released from military duty just before he was to be sent over seas. His bunk mate had given him a Book of Mormon and despite being disowned by his parents, he joined the LDS church, eventually becoming the first Jewish convert to be called as a bishop. After leaving the service, he became a police officer and eventually started the Chaplain's Corps for the Salt Lake PD. Here's an article from the Deseret News when he had to retire due to budget cuts.

For the six months prior to my marriage, I had the privilege to care for and usher my hero from his home back and forth to the rehabilitation center so that he could spend a few minutes with that attractive female usher, 61 years later. An amazing and educational experience entering into my own marriage. Even though dementia slowly stole the man I knew and I regularly had to remind him who I was, he always recognized his "sweetheart" and lit up as I wheeled him into her room.

He passed away about 4 months after I got married and moved to Las Vegas.

Cool story. I love this stuff too.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Damn. This is one of the saddest things I have ever read on CUF. Seriously.

lol. Not even close.

SU, if I could I would go back in time and take the young SU out chasing girls, riding dirt bikes, and watching Bond movies. We could have had a blast together.

[clackamascoug]

My maternal Grandfather got my grandmother pregnant in my great grandmothers hotel and gambling joint in Strevell Idaho. The two youngen's ran away to Oregon, and ended up living in Hermiston. My grandfather owned and operated a radiator repair shop in the same location for 50+ years. They bought 3 acres on the outside of town, (for $250) and by the time he passed away, McDonald's and Walmart were across the street. Those 3 acres and other property bought with cash through the years, and 50 year antique doll collection, left my grandmother worth about 2.5 million when she liquidated. All from radiator repair. Oh... by the way, they finally got married - in 1964 when they had 10 grand kids. Although he was a good person, he did have a drinking problem, and it caused some problems for the family.

My paternal grandfather served a mission to Michigan in 1929, brought home a girl on the train, stopped in SLC to get married, had 6 kids, and lived in the same house for 50 years. Their house payment was $11 month. He was a Bishop for 20 years and as they lived close to the La Grande Taberbacle, they had frequent overnight guests from SLC. My grandpa was on a first name basis with 2 generations of Apostles, and was an especially good friend of LeGrand Richards. He worked for the Post office for 40 years, 20 of which he was the Postmaster of La Grande, OR. He was also the best example of a husband/father I've ever seen, having applied the gospel principles into his everyday life.

[Solon]

My grandfather made a pile of money bootlegging home-made moonshine in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah during Prohibition.

My grandmother was a hippie new-ager who took my dad to a nudie bar when he was 16, and who smoked pot until she had a stroke in her 90s.

[SeattleUte]

lol. Not even close.

SU, if I could I would go back in time and take the young SU out chasing girls, riding dirt bikes, and watching Bond movies. We could have had a blast together.

That wasn't going to happen visiting my maternal grandparents in Hacienda Heights.

[Jeff Lebowski]

That wasn't going to happen visiting my maternal grandparents in Hacienda Heights.

Just joking, SU. I am sure your childhood was great.

[SeattleUte]

Just joking, SU. I am sure your childhood was great.

I wouldn't go that far.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I wouldn't go that far.

Well, you know... Other than the oppressive LDS indoctrination and fast offering collections, I mean.

[wuapinmon]

Well, you know... Other than the oppressive LDS indoctrination and fast offering collections, I mean.

[U-Ute]

My grandpa presided over the Grizzly Adams case here in the 70's.