ANNE MARIE GRAPE

GRAPE
ANNE MARIE (CROPCHO)
For the past six months, Anne raged, raged against the dying of the light before finally succumbing to cancer on Monday, April 30, 2018. The 59-year-old Upper St. Clair resident made her name among the Pittsburgh architecture community as a top-flight corporate interior designer who specialized in large-scale space planning. She was part of Pittsburgh's Renaissance II, working with several prominent architectural firms over the years on projects in virtually every well-known building in the city. One favorite project was the Igloo Club at the Civic Arena. As devoted as Anne was to her career, she always put her family first. She was the favorite aunt who spoiled her nieces and nephews with "no rules" sleepovers." Niece Pam Carney of Denver, CO said, "She has been and continues to be a role model in so many ways: as an aunt whose mere presence would elicit sheer joy, a businesswoman who paved the way for others with her determination and brilliance, a mother who loved so fiercely and proudly, and a person who believed in compassion above all." Anne started her own family in 1997 when she married, fulfilling the wish of her beloved late father, Stephen Cropcho for her to find a Carnegie Mellon graduate who takes care of his mother and is nice to animals. In 1999 Anne reached a crossroads when she gave birth to her only child, Eli. She made the difficult decision to pause her career and devote herself to being a full-time mom. For ten years, Anne spent every day participating in her son's life, guiding him to become a successful student-athlete at Lehigh University and member of the nationally ranked 2018 EIWA Championship wrestling team. When Anne reentered the workforce, she found her space planning skills were still highly valued. Her last major project was planning and designing office spaces for the Crown Castle USA facilities in the Southpointe business park. Anne leaves behind her husband, Mike; and son, Eli; along with her mother, Shirley Cropcho; sisters, Cathy (Ron) Shank, Patty Carney, Peggy Gruseck; and brother, Steve (Andrea) Cropcho. She was also blessed with many nieces and nephews. A memorial celebration will be held at a later date. For details, please email annegrape@verizon.net. Anne asked for anyone considering donations to help with assisting towards her son's college expenses. A memorial fund has been set up in Anne's name on GoFundMe.com (https://www.gofundme.com/tj2b8p).