Kenneth Alan Grillo

Posted

Kenneth Alan Grillo, born January 11, 1948. Loving husband of JoAnn (Holmes); proud father of Kathy Williams (Roger) and Suzanne Smith (Matt) passed away on October 5, 2014. He is survived by four grandchildren, Sarah and Zachary Williams; and Logan and Merrick Smith; his sister Paulette Phelan (Robert); several nieces and nephews and numerous other family members and friends.

Ken was predeceased by his parents, Augustine and Mary (nee Medina) Grillo. Ken graduated from Pilgrim High School in Rhode Island in 1966 and the University of Rhode Island in 1970 with an Industrial Engineering Degree. He was in ROTC while attending URI and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army when he graduated. He graduated in 2010 from Ursuline College with a Master’s Degree in Human Resources. He also taught classes in that degree program at Ursuline for a couple of years. He went on to serve in the Army Reserve for many years and reached the rank of Captain.

Ken began his career as a Safety Engineer for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and later went on to work for Alcan Aluminum in Oswego, NY as Safety Engineer and then worked in Human Resources there. After twelve years, he transferred to Alcan Cable in Williamsport, PA and three years later transferred to the corporate office in Cleveland, OH. He retired after 33 years which Alcan/Novelis as Manager of Corporate Human Resource Services. Ken was a man of deep faith and a true gentleman who took pride in his family and his Portuguese roots. His mission in life always was to put other people’s needs before his own, especially his family and those he worked with. Ken had a great sense of humor and a talent for writing poems for various events at his workplace. Ken loved to travel and camp. Ken volunteered at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank in Grove City, OH until he became ill.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to honor Ken’s loving and giving spirit may be made to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank at www.midohiofoodbank.org/. Interment will be at a later date in Rhode Island.