Virginia Woodruff "Ginger" Grigg

1944 - 2017

Groton - Virginia "Ginger" Woodruff Grigg, 73, of Groton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Ginger was born in Millburn, N.J., on Oct. 13, 1944, the daughter of the late Howard Edgar Grigg and the late Drusilla Cooke Grigg. Ginger grew up in Short Hills, N.J. and spent summers with her family on Cape Cod, where she loved to go for long walks on the flats when the tide went out. She also enjoyed many summers as a young girl at Camp Wono in Brewster, Mass. At home in Short Hills, Ginger spent time playing piano with her father at family gatherings, where everyone would gather around and sing songs. She followed in her sister Debbie's footsteps graduating from Skidmore College.

In the early 1970s, Ginger moved to Los Angeles, Calif. and began working with the Emmy-winning producer/director John Rich as his administrative assistant on the television show "On The Rocks." Soon recognized for her creativity and capabilities, Ginger worked as an associate director from 1972 to 1982 on "WKRP in Cincinnati" and from 1982 to 1989 on "Family Ties." In addition Ginger was a director in other television shows including "The New WKRP in Cincinnati." She retired in the 1990s, but remained a member of the Director's Guild of America where she voted every year for the Director's Guild Award.

Ginger's next career was with FEMA as their public relations liaison. She traveled all over the country responding to many tragic disasters including the 9/11 attacks in New York City and to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Ginger loved classical music and was a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, especially "Phantom of the Opera" and "Cats." She maintained an extensive record collection and, refusing more modern methods, frequently enjoyed listening to albums on a turntable. Ginger enjoyed traveling and was particularly interested in China and other Asian countries. She also was an avid mystery novel reader.

Ginger was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Drusilla Grigg; and her sister, Deborah Grigg Wilson.

She is survived by her two brothers, Douglas Grigg and his companion, Laurianne Black, of Chatham, N.J. and Timothy Taylor Grigg and his wife, Warrine Elizabeth Kavanagh, of Pawcatuck. Ginger is also survived by her brother-in-law, R. Douglas Wilson and his wife, Betsy Griggs Wilson, of Saugerties, N.Y. While she had no children of her own, Ginger leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews: Theodore Wilson and his wife, Barbara, of West Chester, Ohio; James Wilson and his wife, Teresa, of Valhalla, N.Y.; Peter Wilson of Tarrytown, N.Y.; Douglas W. Grigg Jr. and his wife, Melinda, of Rye, N.Y.; Sage Elizabeth Grigg Thibdeau and her husband, Mathew, of Westminster, Colo.; and Gary Patrick Sousa of Marion, Mass. She is also survived by grandnieces and grandnephews: Rob, Tim, Kiera and Kathryn Wilson, Benjamin and Alexandria Grigg and Madelyn, Riley and Finnegan Thibdeau. Ginger is also survived by her cousin, Marilyn McTaggart of Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Ginger developed many friendships over the years and will be greatly missed by all. Two friends of Ginger's from the Hollywood days were Barbara Szabo and Hope Alexander Willis. Barbara worked with Ginger in Hollywood and remembers many laughs shared at work and their fun-filled travels to Hong Kong. Hope and Ginger met while working on "WKRP in Cincinnati," where they were considered an odd couple – Ginger being a very "matching sweater set" New Englander and Hope never shedding her hippie California roots. Hope spoke with Ginger on her birthday, a few days before her death, and recalls that "Ginger was snappy and funny, and very Ginger. Ginger was a complicated, funny, bright, talented woman, and I will miss her from my life."

Ginger's family would like to thank the staff and residents of Fellowship Manor at Fairvew in Groton, for the assistance and companionship extended to Ginger while she was a resident there.

Memorial contributions may be made in Ginger's name to The Chorus of Westerly, 119 High St., Westerly, RI 02891, Thames River Heritage, P.O. Box 851, New London, CT 06320 or a charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be planned for the spring at the convenience of the family.