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Grant Piontek Obituary
Memories and Condolences
for Grant Piontek
Sponsored by Piontek, Zampogna, Carpenter and Breznican families.
Patty Piontek
October 9, 2022
If I could reach up to Heaven and bring you back, I would do it it a heartbeat. You were the best son that a mom could ask for. You are missed every single day.
Michelle Piontek
October 7, 2019
My Dearest Grant,
I cannot believe it has been 10 years since you left us, your family and friends miss you dearly, our memories of you will never fade. I feel so blessed when we talk about the good times we all had together, there is always laughter to go along with our stories.
I think of you and miss you every day. I am so thankful for our 14+ years together, they were the best years of my life. I do see signs of your presence from time to time, which mean so much to me, please keep them coming. I will love you always.
Your Michelle
Michelle Piontek
October 7, 2010
My Dearest Grant,
It has been almost a year since I lost the best gift that I have ever been given and part of me left with you. The years we had together were the best ones of my life, I will treasure every moment we shared until we meet again. You made me a better person and taught me more about life & love than I could have ever imagined. I always knew how special you were to me and how much you impacted my life but never realized how many others you had affected in the same way; you were a gift to us all. I will never understand why you were taken from us so soon, the bright light that you brought to our lives has dimmed, but will never fade entirely. I miss you more than I could ever explain in words, but I am grateful for the many reminders I have of you every day and that I feel your presence often. You are and will always be my Superman.
With all my love, your Michelle
Dan Nowlan
October 6, 2010
Written and read by Grant's friend Dan at his Memorial
My Friend Grant
October 11, 2009
I want to tell you about my friend Grant. He was first and foremost exactly that…a friend. I want to thank Anthony for the wonderful obituary he wrote up for the newspaper – which epitomizes the type of friends and relatives Grant has – ready to put the best of their skills and talents forward to help him out, and in this case, to memorialize him. Though I understand there was some discussion over the phrase ‘Practically everyone who met Grant could count him as a friend’. To my knowledge, it wasn’t practically everyone – it WAS everyone.
And to me, Grant was more than just an acquaintance or a friend, he was one of my best friends. He was a golfing buddy, a drinking buddy, a dining companion. The best meal I ever had was with Grant, and Chellie and my wife Una, dining on the beach in Waikiki, a long, relaxing, several-hour affair with food and drink and conversation, with Diamond Head jutting into the sky in the background, and the sounds of cool crashing waves all around as we sipped wine while the sun set slowly into the Pacific.
As for beverages – Grant knew more about beer than I will ever know, and was always eager to share it with others. His position with Golden Eagle as a trainer was a perfect fit for him, and I will always remember him testing out his sampling course with a few of us on our backyard patio, teaching us about color and taste and styles of beers. And not only did Grant always show up with a variety of beverages in hand at any get-together, packed into the latest Budweiser-logoed state-of-the-art cooler, but it was always a smorgasbord of fine brews poured into sampling cups for all there to sip and enjoy.
Grant also loved the game of golf. And while early on his scores didn’t necessarily reflect his enthusiasm, he gradually became better and better, always with the goal of breaking 100 squarely in his sights. My game was usually better than his, and as we kept score over the years, I noticed him pulling closer and closer to taking me down. Until finally, in one magic round in St. Croix, powered by the positive vibes of his island wedding and the ever shifting Caribbean weather, Grant made one of the greatest shots I’ve ever witnessed. With my ball resting safely on the green and a makeable par putt to take the lead in my sights, as I walked confidently to the green to mark my ball, I turned and watched Grant, a good 80 yards down the fairway, hit an unbelievable chip, which paced my steps on the green, rolling, and bending, and twisting, and finally finding the bottom of the cup for a birdie to pull even with me. And later that round, with us standing tied on the 18th tee, and my trash-talking trying to unnerve him for my all but certain, usual victory on a long finishing hole into the wind, Grant matched me shot for shot, and nailed a knee-knocking 5-footer to seal his first and only victory over me. I handed him the completed score card and told him he should keep it. It was the happiest I had ever been for him, until another point on that same trip.
With Chellie’s father unable to make the trip down to St. Croix, I was honored to be asked to walk Chellie down the aisle, or should I say the sandy beach, to join her with her soon-to-be husband. The picture in his obituary captures exactly the emotion I remember seeing on his face as we approached him: wonder and amazement as his beautiful bride moved toward him to be wed as husband and wife. I, and I think others, had wondered through the years if Grant would ever get married. And in the end, he did, and he chose a smart, pretty, funny, pool-shooting, sports-watching Midwestern gal to spend the rest of his life with. That, I think, speaks of what Grant was at the core – a person who had a strong need to be in touch with the most fundamental, good traits that are found in a human being. And he found all of that in Chellie.
Though he didn’t have any children, Grant was like a father to mine. Every time he would walk through our door, he was greeted with shrieks and cries of “It’s silly awesome Grant!” and the kids would pile on him to the point where we would have to shoo them off. And once in the swimming pool, forget about it – it was another swarm of the kids asking for rides and tickles and fun, with yet more shouts from Una and me saying “Kids! Grant is a friend, not a toy!” But he always seemed to enjoy it.
Even when we wouldn’t see each other, Grant and I would text often. I’d be flipping through channels watching TV at home and would come across The Dark Knight or the Godfather and I would text him “Turn on channel 41.” One of his favorite hobbies was to send me picture mail of his current, well-poured beverage, usually in the middle of the day at work, to which I could only respond: “Dude, you have the greatest job in the world. You win.” His last picture mail to me was just from this past Monday, where he sent me a shot of a lovely, full mug at Rock Bottom Brewery with the text: “Happy Monday Lunch in phoenix.” And my last text to him was just the day before that simply read “Go Steelers” as I planted my self in front of the TV to root his Pittsburgh team onto a Sunday Night Football win. That’s the kind of guy Grant was. Not only did you want him to win, you wanted his teams to win, too.
Grant was a great sports fan – he loved to play and watch. He played football at Palo Verde high school and one of his great stories was in receiving a personal phone call from Joe Paterno, Joe Pa, at Penn State to tell him thanks for applying to play college football there but that he couldn’t extend a position to him. How many people can say that one of the highlights of their lives was receiving a rejection call? But that also was Grant – even in defeat, it seemed to turn out as a win of sorts, and made for a great story.
Success seemed to follow Grant, and largely due, I think, to his wonderful, highly likeable personality. When I try to think back on all the emotions I had seen Grant go thru over the years, I never remember him ever being really angry. Frustrated, yes. A bit upset, sure. And maybe in times I didn’t see him, he got angry as all of us can get. But in my presence, he was never uncomfortably mad. In fact, even in his frustration, Grant would mostly reveal it through his facial expressions which were, for lack of a better word, comical, which would provide some level of entertainment to those he was with, and that would ultimately lead him back to his normal, affable self. I will miss those facial expressions, which come thru loud and clear in the multitude of pictures that I have of him over the years, always in the company of friends. Grant was highly photogenic, and even in some of his crazier expressions, it always came across as almost movie star-like. And as I would comb through pictures of our ‘activities’ from the night before, and would delete those where I or others did not look so great, I never remember deleting one because Grant didn’t come across well – he was always in top picture-ready form.
Grant had a lot of promise. There’s no doubt in my mind that he would have continued to be successful in his pursuits – maybe someday a top exec at Golden Eagle. Maybe even a high-ranking big-wig with InBev. And why not? If someday Grant were interested in any of those positions, everyone he knew and worked with would sit back and think – yeah, he’s a great guy who I trust and who knows his stuff - he’d be a great choice.
But for as much unfulfilled promise as he had, I think Grant went out on top: he had (in my opinion) the perfect job. He married the girl of his dreams in a tropical paradise. He passed away with his Steelers and Penguins both holding the current world titles. He had a motorcycle, a Land Cruiser, and a ’57 Chevy. He was loved by all…well…except maybe for the cat. But, I’m thinking that today, even Milo misses Grant a little bit.
I know for a fact that I miss Grant a lot. I think sometimes you don’t realize how important something or someone is to your life until it is taken away. The hole I have within me is deep, and I can’t recall being as upset as I have been over the past few days. It’s not fair or make any sense. But maybe the answer is this: it seems that not only did Grant have numerous friends here, but he also has at least One up in Heaven. And apparently God had waited long enough to be in the company of such a fine person like Grant. And when God taps you on the shoulder and says it’s time to come be with Him and give Him some sampling lessons, what can you do but say: Yes.
I will miss Grant’s friendship. I will miss his love of travelling and dining, especially with me and Chellie and Una. I will miss his dry sense of humor that oftentimes instead of a laugh would simply evoke the straight-faced response: “That’s funny.” I will miss the fact that, today, there is one less good person in the world.
As many of you know, I am a pretty private person. And while I have a lot of work associates and people I consider as friends, I have very few people in the world that I would consider my true friends, my best friends. In fact, I can count them on one hand. It used to be two hands, but no longer, because Grant…was the one for my thumb.
Grant Piontek. Rest in Peace my good friend. I look forward to seeing you again, when we can share a nice draft beverage in Paradise and talk about our fun times together here on earth. I’ll see you then.
How you can show support
Grant, Adam, & Jeremy-PV reunion
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
with Megan @ the PV reunion
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
The Fickett gang @ the PV reunion
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
October 6, 2010
October 6, 2010
Grant e la sua mamma godersi una cena in famiglia
October 6, 2010
Engagement night
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
Christmas 2008
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
San Francisco
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
With Mom & Dad in Tintown
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
St Croix
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
Grant & Una, St Croix
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
St Croix
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
St Croix
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
One of many fun nights out with Dan & Una
Michelle Piontek
October 6, 2010
Tucson, 2005
October 5, 2010
Tucson, 2008
October 5, 2010
Pin's birthday
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Tucson, 2002
October 5, 2010
Tucson, 2002
October 5, 2010
Jamie Hanoka
October 5, 2010
Dear Grant, Please continue to watch over my baby sister. Your love is in Chellie's heart and will be her strength and comfort. You were taken from her all too soon but the soul-connection between the two of you is stronger than cryptonite and your bond will continue forever. Rest in peace brother. Love you.
Pittsburgh, 2007
October 5, 2010
Los Angeles, 2002
October 5, 2010
October 5, 2010
The best dinner ever, Hawaii
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Grant & Jonny
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Grant & Adam
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
The Harley
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Grant & Howie, Coco Beach
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Grant & Nonna Zampogna
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Grant & Uncle Sonny, Westline
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
GED Christmas party
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Grant & Delaney, Halloween
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Grant & Jack, Halloween
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Grant & Jamison Rose
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Grant, Ron, & Jon after kickball
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
With Dan Lust after a "bike race"
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Easter
Michelle Piontek
October 5, 2010
Alec Cirigliano
October 5, 2010
Grant,
I've always thought of you more of a brother than a friend. I'll never forget all the great times and funny stories we've had over the years. I always thought we would have so many more to look forward to. It's been almost a year and I still reach for the phone to call you or send you a text-for a few seconds it's like you're still here. You're mom told me as long as we have our memories it will keep your spirit alive. I liked that. I know I'll see you again sometime. Maybe we'll meet up on the old Mexican blackbird. Until then, I'm gonna miss you bro.
Anthony Breznican
October 5, 2010
Dear Grant,
You are in our thoughts, always, no matter how much time passes. Our memories of you will never fade, mostly because you lived life so vividly, but also because you were -- and are -- loved so much. I think of you every day, and try to see you everywhere I can, like in the way Jill laughs, because no one made her laugh like you. I see you in our yard, by the trees where we smoked cigars, awaiting the baby's arrival. You're also here in the way our little girl Audrey can turn anyone into a friend moments after meeting them. I wish she had known you. Like everyone, she'd have loved you like crazy. Please be with us, and watch over her forever.
your brother,
Una Nowlan
October 4, 2010
Almost a year has passed, and not a single day goes by without some glimmer of you, my dear friend. Memories of you are everywhere! I think about the amazing vacations we took, the wonderful meals we shared, concerts, hockey games...but mostly the many, many laughs. You were an exceptional husband to my best friend and you brought out the best in one another. I was so happy and honored to share that magical day on that gorgeous beach with two people who were so obviously meant for one another. Chellie and I talk about you all the time and we'll tell anyone who will listen about the "Best Dinner EVER" in Hawaii! We laugh and we smile and we tell stories about you constantly because we know that you would want that. My kids miss their Uncle Grant, and this summer was very hard in the pool without their favorite superhero playmate. I really missed saying "Grant is our friend, not a toy...now get off him!" They talk about you all the time and it's always with a huge smile on their face. You are, after all, responsible for teaching Jack his first sentence "more beer." You couldn't have been more proud.
GJP, I love you and I miss you so very much and just like every other person that was lucky enough to call you "friend", I am a better person for having known you.
Tucson, 2004
October 4, 2010
Santa Barbara, 2007
October 4, 2010
St. Croix, July 2008
October 4, 2010
Jill Breznican
October 4, 2010
Dear Grant -
You have been my inspiration ever since I can remember. As a kid, I nipped at your heels waiting to be included and was thrilled when the chance came. When we got older, and our six-year age difference made me less of a burden, we could more easily share our interests with one another, but I was still nipping at your heels eagerly joining in your hobbies. You are the reason that I love the past and majored in History; enjoy comic books for their mythology, art direction, and storytelling; listen to John Denver and Brownie Mary and Hard Soul Poets; can tell the difference between an IPA and Hefeweizen; and pick up my camera every single day to capture my experiences. A lesser brother would have shoo'd his kid sister away, but you encouraged me to pursue all of these things with the same enthusiasm you had for them, and in doing so you opened up countless worlds to me. I miss sharing these things with you, but most of all, I just miss you.
You will continue to be my inspiration to live a passionate life.
Ti amo, mio fratello.
Vostro piccolo sorella,
Jillo
St Croix, July 2008
October 4, 2010
St. Croix, July 2008
October 4, 2010
Tucson, Christmas 2004
October 4, 2010
Mark Carpenter
October 4, 2010
I can't believe it has been a year since receiving the worst news I have ever heard. Grant brought so many people together in his life and with his passing. I'll never forget the time we had with Grant and I am sad knowing I don't have the chance to create anymore of those awesome memories I have with my brother.
Patty Piontek
October 3, 2010
Grant,
My life has been turned upside down without you here, my son. Words cannot describe the emptiness in my heart that I feel every single second of each day. Not to ever see your beautiful smile and those sparkling eyes or to hear your voice again tears me apart. Your sense of humor and positive attitude were infectious. You touched and changed so many people whom you came into contact with and were a friend to everyone you met. Life is not the same for any of us anymore....our hearts are broken and empty. You were the best son a mother could have and I was blessed! I am told that life doesn't end...life changes so until I see you again, always remember....
Ti Amo
Tua Madre
October 3, 2010
I miss you Grant.I hope your hitting them long and birding every hole up in Heaven.
Matt
October 3, 2010
Time may pass but the memories of us as kids will last a lifetime. I miss my cousin his smile, his charm, you will never be forgotten. You left us too soon.
Kris Coutch Arnold PA
Tucson, Christmas 2005
October 2, 2010
Christmas 2005
October 2, 2010
Florida 2005
October 2, 2010
Tucson, August 2004
October 2, 2010
Tucson, Christmas 2001
October 2, 2010
Nikki Biddulph
October 2, 2010
It is hard to believe that is has been almost a year without seeing you raising your eyebrows, toasting with a beer, or beaming that great smile. Yet, I know that you are still around. I see things constantly that remind me of you. Sometimes I will see someone wearing your Superhero t-shirt, or a Golden Eagle truck will go by, or even that hawk will hang out a little longer than normal and I smile. I am grateful to have had you in my life for the amount of time that I did, and I will carry a little piece of you in my heart forever.
October 1, 2010
Adam Homan
October 1, 2010
Dear Grant,
You left for your next journey almost a year ago now, which seems quite impossible to me. I have to admit that I feel a little left behind, but I’m dealing with it. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about you. I have to be mindful to not think of that sad day, to focus more on the thousands of great moments we shared together in our brief time on this planet. Time is helpful and forces me to march forward. I hear that it is important to have closure in all of this, but I disagree. I think acceptance is what it’s all about. I accept that you have left your human form and I accept that all of us here must continue on the best we can and live our lives to the fullest, because, as you have shown us, we are only here for a brief time. I do not accept that you are gone because you are with me every day and I feel your presence. The very best of you is here in my memories, in my heart and I will keep you with me as long as I draw breath. For thirty-four years you made me smile and laugh and I’m so grateful for that. You made my world a better place to be and you continue to do so because I feel your presence. You are and always will be my best friend and brother. You have taught me that nothing ever truly ends, there are only new beginnings, and so I begin a new relationship with your spirit, which is eternal, and it makes me smile. I will see you around, Bro.
Love,
Adam
St Croix
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant & Jill, St Croix
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant & Dan, San Juan
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant & Jason, St Croix
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant, St Croix
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Adam, Una, Dan, Grant & I, St Croix
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant & Dan, St Croix
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant & I in Cancun
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant & I with Mark, Kelli, Jill, & Anthony in Cancun
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant in his element.
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant & I in Cabo
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant & I with Jill & Anthony in L.A.
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant & his boyz
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant & Big Al
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Grant, Jason, & Howard at Alec's wedding
Michelle Piontek
October 1, 2010
Samantha Carpenter
September 30, 2010
Uncle Grant was so amazing, bringing out the best in people. He was so selfless. No one could have asked for a better uncle, brother, or friend. He really was a friend to all.
Just because you cannot see, hear, or touch a person doesn't mean they're gone. Grant is still here in all of our hearts. He will never be forgotten.
Sam and Grant before 8th grade dance
Samantha Carpenter
September 30, 2010
Mark, Kelli, Grant and Michelle
Samantha Carpenter
September 30, 2010
Danielle and Samantha with Uncle Grant
Samantha Carpenter
September 30, 2010
Danielle's tattoo in memory of Grant.
Kelli Carpenter
September 30, 2010
Almost a year has gone by since I lost my brother Grant and time unfortunately has not lessened the pain or sorrow that I am going through. He was such a huge part of my life and every day there is something that reminds me of him. My daughters (his neices) miss seeing him at their dance recitals and orchestra concerts. Every family birthday and holiday that passes I think, "Grant should be here." Memories are all that are left and there are so many of them. He will live in my heart forever.
A sweet kiss after our ceremony
Michelle Piontek
September 30, 2010
Michelle Piontek
September 30, 2010
Ron North
May 11, 2010
Wow, my son and i were talking about Grant a while back. His neice and my son go to school together. I thought to myself it's been a long time, but not long enough for Grant not to be with us any more. Our prayers go out to his family.
Aaron Johnson
December 17, 2009
I actually first heard of Grant while in Jr. High, he was a legend before his time. He's that guy that every guy wanted to be...athletic, good looking, and an all around great person. He's a few years older than myself but we attended the same High School. I didn't actually meet him until we worked together years later. I have to say that it was honor to know you Grant, and I am truly sorry to you, his family, for your loss.
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