John M. Grissmer

John M. Grissmer, 91, of Ridgefield, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 19. He was the loving husband of the late Patricia (Vollmar) Grissmer who predeceased him in 2008.

Mr. Grissmer earned a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from Catholic University and enjoyed sharing his talents teaching Drama at the University of Connecticut, American University and Xavier University.

Mr. Grissmer’s love of drama started as a young boy when his grandfather took him to watch movies projected on the side of a wall in the small farming town of Wingate, Indiana, and continued throughout his life. He wrote a Broadway play, The Candy Apple (1970), which the New York Times critic Clive Barnes called “a quite astonishingly bad play.” He also produced and directed several films: The Bride (1972), Scalpel (1975) and Blood Rage (1985).

Later in life, he became interested in music theory and musical theater and studied both with great pleasure and passion. He eventually wrote the book and music for The Perfect Game, a quirky romantic comedy about love, the invention of basketball, time travel, and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principal. The show was performed at Catholic University, Xavier University and most recently in January off-Broadway at Theater Row.

Mr. Grissmer was born on August 28, 1933, in Houston, Texas, son of the late Earl and Mary (Foley) Grissmer and raised in Anderson, Indiana. As a young man he worked in all aspects of his family’s business, the Earl Grissmer Company, which produced Blue Lustre, a then popular carpet cleaner. His most questionable job, he later recalled, was mixing chemicals by hand in their Indianapolis garage. Upon the death of his father, Mr. Grissmer served as President of the company and, with his mother, negotiated its sale, forgoing higher offers to ensure no employees would be let go.

Mr. Grissmer graduated from Xavier University and then proudly served in the US Army at Fort Riley, Kansas, as an officer in the 1st Infantry Division Artillery until his honorable discharge in 1957. Mr. Grissmer received the Xavier University Founder’s Day Award twice and was a lifelong supporter of Xavier University Athletics.

He was a student of history, particularly the Civil War, and published the book Ghosts of Antietam in 1998. He held a commercial pilots license and had a life-long love of airplanes which led him to co-found a flight school and charter business at Danbury Airport in the 1980’s.

Mr. Grissmer was a resident of Ridgefield since 1975. He enjoyed supporting local businesses and non-profits in town and could frequently be found at the Ridgefield Library, Books on the Common, Luc’s Café and Caraluzzi’s. He was a supporter of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra and served as a member of the board of directors of the Ridgefield Symphony Foundation.

Mr. Grissmer is survived by his son, Michael and his wife, Deborah Backes, his grandson Benjamin and his wife, Bridget, and granddaughter Katherine. He was a steadfast supporter of Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shoppe of Ridgefield, established in 1998 by Michael and Deborah.

His good cheer, humor, and unconditional love will be profoundly missed.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, October 4, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Reflections and tributes of Mr. Grissmer will be offered at 6:30 PM. A prayer service, entombment and US Army Funeral Honors will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 10:00 AM in Saint Mary’s Cemetery; 110 North Street, Ridgefield.

Contributions in Mr. Grissmer’s memory may be made to Regional Hospice, 30 Milestone Rd., Danbury, CT 06810 and http://regionalhospicect.org

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