BATH — John A. Grill Sr., 85, of The Plant Home, died Dec. 5.

Grill was born June 30, 1929, to John and Mary Mahkota Grill, who had immigrated from Slovenia. He was raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, in New York City, and was fond of saying he grew up “across the street from Katz’s Deli.”

He was educated in New York schools, graduating from Lasalle High School in 1947. He went on to earn an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Manhattan College, where he served as treasurer of the Class of 1951. He then pursued graduate studies at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute.

He began his career in New York with Arma Inc., where he was assigned to the anti-submarine warfare division. In 1952, while contracting with Bath Iron Works, he met his first wife, Sandra Johnson, of Bath, with whom he had four children.

In 1968, the family moved to Bath, and Grill worked as part of BIW’s DX Project. Later, he went to work for Cianbro on the Maine Yankee nuclear power plant. He also served as president and a founding partner of Rent-All of Bath, and held positions with Western Auto, Bath Cycle and Bath Industrial Sales.

In 1974, the family built one of the first Shelter Institute homes in Woolwich. The property remained his residence until he moved to The Plant Home two years ago.

He was predeceased by his parents; his second wife, Doris Nuesse, whom he married in 1995; a sister, Elizabeth; and a son, Michael.

Grill is survived by his daughter, Susan, and husband, John Deterling, of West Bath; sons, Christopher and wife, Maria, of Arrowsic, and John A. Jr. and wife, Mary, of Bath; six grandchildren, Daniel Shiells, Erin Crosman, Olivia Deterling, and Haley, Michael and Sarah Grill; a great-grandchild, Hudson Crosman;a sister, Mimi Mejac, of Potomac, Maryland; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Grill’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Grace Episcopal Church, 1100 Washington St., Bath. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the church fellowship hall.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Plant Home, 1 Washington St., Bath, ME 04530, or to the Bath Area Food Bank, P.O. Box 65, Bath, ME 04530.

The family wishes to thank The Plant Home and Mid Coast Hospital for their excellent care and support.

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