Timothy Appleton Grannis
Timothy was born November 24, 1949 in Hartford CT, to the late Caroline Kinloch Bull Grannis of Georgetown, SC and the late Peter Edwards Grannis of Greenwich, CT. He died on September 6, 2016 in Burlington, VT, surrounded by his friends and family after declining rapidly over this past year with early onset Alzheimer's.
Timothy is survived by his partner in business and in life, his loving wife, Susan Elizabeth Hurd. He is also survived by his daughter, Genevieve Chesna Grannis Hathaway, and her husband, Keith Hathaway; his daughter, Rebecca Eve Grannis, and her husband, Chapin Spencer; his step-son Will Idaho Hurd, and his wife, Biyokuri Bidameri. He leaves behind his grandchildren Kaylan Hathaway, Jarrit Hathaway, Zia Clara Grannis and Asa Ray Hurd. Timothy is survived by his loving brothers and sister, and their spouses: Yissacher Granitsky (fka Peter Edwards Grannis, Jr.) and his wife Esther Granitsky; Anne Cleland Grannis and her husband Lee Stephen Engdahl; Stephen Bull Grannis and his wife Christina Lynn Grannis. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.
Timothy led a vibrant life, full of creativity, humor and mischief. He enjoyed a childhood filled with adventure, fireworks, and family. When he was twelve-years-old, he began making jewelry with his father; this endeavor sparked a creative passion that would shape Timothy's life's work as a metalsmith. Timothy graduated from Watkinson School in Hartford, CT, winning first prize for his senior art project. During his two years at St. Lawrence University, he cultivated a community of radical friends, fought the system, and made art. Timothy and his first wife, Victoria Graf, settled in Vermont in 1972, where they raised their two daughters. Timothy completed his degree at the University of Vermont and opened his first Jewelry studio in Underhill, which he later moved to Essex, VT in 1982. Through his studies with Heikki Seppa, a renowned Finnish Metalsmith, he learned the art of anti-clastic forging. He was able to further develop his three-dimensional metal work through a grant he earned from the National Endowment for the Arts. He was also honored to be selected for a special exhibition of artists at the mansion of the Vice President of the United States.
Timothy's artist statement read, "All the elements of my work and life distill down to this statement: 'I just like to make stuff.'" In 1998 Timothy and his life partner, Susan Hurd, opened the Grannis Gallery in Burlington, VT, as a venue to showcase Timothy's "stuff," and as a realization of their dream of creating and selling unique collections of designer jewelry. Together, they crafted a creative and successful business, earning The Readers' Choice Award from the Seven Days newspapers for 9 years, as well as JCK's "Top 10 Designer Jewelry Stores" award. Timothy and Susan married in 1999. Ten years later they closed the Grannis Gallery and opened Alchemy Jewelry Arts, a small artisan collective in the South End Arts District of Burlington. Together, they continued to bring beauty to the community with Timothy's inspired creations.
Timothy held family and friends in his deep hugs and bottomless heart. He was an insatiable adventurer: hiking mountains and canyons, paddling rivers, skating on wild ice, running marathons, traveling the world with his Susie. He loved to laugh, to sing and dance, to make music. He was always the first one to go skinny dipping. Timothy loved science, figuring out how things work, blowing things up, and making potato cannons. He could fix anything with duct tape and superglue.
Timothy was a Prankster. A pyromaniac. An idea factory: one with plenty of talent and just enough focus to pull off the most audacious concepts. He was a gentle soul. A mentor to many (though in denial). A Metal God. Stubborn. A nurturer of two darn strong daughters. He was "Eggie," the entertaining Rock Star Grandpa to his precious grandchildren. A Seeker of Beauty. A man with a very broad definition of family. He was the Best Dad Ever.
A celebration of Timothy's life will be held on September 25, 2016 at 5:00 pm at the All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne, VT. A private reception will follow. For those wishing to honor Timothy's memory please take a moment to give love to your family and friends and do something to make the world more beautiful.
Visit burlingtonfreepress.com/obituaries to Express condolences and sign the guest book.
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Published in The Burlington Free Press on Sept. 13, 2016
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