Ronald Grant Grammont

Ronald (Ron) Grant Grammont (86) of Newton, MA died peacefully after a long illness on October 5, 2025,at Durgin Pines in Kittery, ME. He leaves his loving former wife and dearest friend, Diana Grammont, their son Stephen Grammont and his wife Erin Callaway, daughter Julie Grammont Guinn-Bailey, grandsons Kellan and Dillan Guinn-Bailey and Adrien Lockhart. Ron's extended family includes his sister-in-law Carol Hamilton, brother in-law Peter Johnson, nephews Eric, Peter, and Christopher Hamilton, their wives Lynda, Audra, and Traci, their children, and numerous cousins. He was predeceased by his former brother-in-law James Hamilton.

Ron was born in Gardner, MA on June 15,1939 to Valmore and Loretta (Calderara) Grammont. He attended Newton North High School and graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. He served two years in the US Army as a paratrooper with the 503rd Airborne Regiment, receiving an honorable discharge in 1963. Ron's professional career included working as a mechanical engineer for General Electric, Lynn, MA. and then as project manager and construction supervisor for Horn Building and later Mutch Construction. He lived in Lexington, MA for many years, before retiring to Eliot, ME in 2005. Never one to sit still, he promptly took a part-time job driving for Kittery Auto Auction, allowing him to continue enjoying his love of cars.

Ron's "true" home was Moosehead Lake, ME. He spent many summer days on "the island" as a child and later took his own family there for their annual vacations. For decades he ventured over the ice to enjoy huddling around kerosene heaters with a few special friends. With no electricity or running water, he loved to tinker and was always working on some sort of project when he was there, leaving remnants of his endeavors strewn about the kitchen table inside the island's little cabin.

As an avid amateur photographer, Ron was determined to snap a close-up of the majestic loons that nested on the island's beach. Just when he thought he never would, he captured near-perfect images of two adults with their newborn chick, which he copied and framed for his family and friends. Later in life, he chose a loon as his first tattoo in tribute to his deeply held fondness for Moosehead's special beauty.

Ron's other interests included collecting local art and old clocks, restoring cars, competitive trap shooting, playing clarinet and sax in community bands and, much to his family's happy chagrin, playing the accordion.

Ron enjoyed meeting new people and was quick to make friends. He gave generously of his time to civic and community organizations, including the American Legion and the Woburn Sportsman's Association. He also helped restore the wooden deck of Moosehead's Steamboat Katahdin (the "Kate"), which is now on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the many beloved photos kept at the cabin is of Ron smiling happily while caulking the deck during its first restoration in the early 1980s.

Ron led a quiet but rich life. In lieu of sending flowers, his family invites his friends the opportunity to remember him by making a donation in his memory to the "Keep the Kate Cruising Campaign" , https://www.katahdincruises.com/preserve-the-kate/ or to any other charity they feel reflects Ron's character and values. They also welcome people to sign the online guestbook and share a favorite story or memory. There is no memorial service planned at this time. Ron's family will scatter his ashes privately at a later time. They wish to express their heartfelt thanks to the kind staff and caretakers at Sentry Hill, Durgin Pines, and Compassus Hospice for all their loving care. Care for the Grammont family has been entrusted to the JS Pelky & Son Funeral Home.