Anthony Frank Grandi

Anthony Frank Grandi died peacefully on January 31, 2026, at Stella Maris Long Term Care in Timonium, Maryland at the age of 96. Tony, as everyone knew him, was born November 29, 1929, in McKeesport, PA to Anthony Grandinetti and Jennifer Cortez. He lived his early life in Duquesne, PA just outside of Pittsburgh where he attended Holy Name Catholic for grade school and Duquesne Senior High school, graduating in 1947. He then attended the University of Pittsburgh under the ROTC program and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1954. He met the love of his life, Cecelia Skalicky, in the neighborhood growing up but did not start dating her until attending the University of Pittsburgh. Their first date was a ROTC square dance, and they quickly fell in love. On September 4, 1954, they wed at Holy Name Catholic Church in Duquesne, PA. After graduating college, Tony started working with the RCA Company in New York and was involved with the new, at that time, color television division but within the first year of employment, he received his orders from the United States Army and was sent to Sandia Base, New Mexico for nuclear weapons training followed by Ft Sill, Oklahoma. After the birth of his first daughter Lynne in 1955, he then was shipped to Kirchheimbolanden, Germany as an Officer in the 64th Ordnance Battalion for a two-year stint and was honorably discharged in 1957. 1957 brought the family to the Baltimore area where Tony worked four years at the aircraft and aerospace Martin Company in Middle River. During this time, the birth of his second child, Lisa, occurred and he was able to achieve a master’s degree in electrical engineering management from Drexel University. Initially, the family lived in the Essex area of Baltimore but then moved to Lutherville, MD in 1958. His aerospace work at the Martin Company then allowed him to begin a 31-year career at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland starting in 1961 and ending in 1992. During this time, his son Robert was born in 1964, and his daughter LeeAnn was born in 1965. Although the Goddard Space Flight Center was a 43-mile one way commute, his love for the Baltimore area and his desire to raise his family in Lutherville meant two hours or more of drive time each workday during his career. His 31 years at NASA saw him intimately involved with the Mercury and Apollo programs as well as the Space Shuttle, Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope programs. Around the York Manor neighborhood where the family lived, Tony was known as “Mr. Fix It” as he was always helping neighbors with electrical and mechanical issues such as wiring the pool clubhouse for sound every year, fixing stereo units and televisions, helping with car repairs, adding porches and decks to houses and even plumbing issues. There was no job that he couldn’t do. After retirement, he and his wife Cecelia were able to begin and maintain their passion for travel, taking countless cruises and tours to exotic parts of the world. In 2018, Tony and Cecelia moved to Mercy Ridge Retirement Community where Tony was instantly beloved by the staff and community due to his charm, wit, dancing ability and singing voice. Dementia affected his memory over the years, but he continued to befriend all those with whom he was in contact. Tony is survived by his wife Cecelia of 71 years of marriage, daughters Lynne Brick (and husband Victor), Lisa Michael (and husband Gary), LeeAnn Hartman (and husband Richard), son Robert Grandinetti (and wife Deirdre) along with 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his first granddaughter Vicki Brick-Zupancic. Tony is also survived by his last remaining sibling, Lois Shank plus dozens of nieces and nephews. Funeral mass will be held 11 am Saturday, February 14 at the Church of the Nativity, 20 E Ridgely Rd, Timonium, MD 21093 In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alzfdn.org) or the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (https://tribute.ocrahope.org/vickibrickzupancic).

Anthony Frank Grandi

November 29, 1929 - January 31, 2026