John Grandi
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient for Community Service
John Grandi’s expression that he flunked retirement has been a boon for Big Bear. He writes a popular human interest and theatrical column called "Stay Tuned" for the local paper. He is very active in community affairs, and a popular Master of Ceremonies often thought of as “Mr. Big Bear”. John is past Chairman of the Bear Valley Healthcare District Foundation and has been on the Board for eight years. He is also is active in the Big Bear Lake Rotary Club. He has emceed their Eagles of Excellence for several years.
John is a veteran of show business, performing and traveling with the national company of the stage play, "Mr. Roberts", after WWII. He then appeared with a repertory company in "My Three Angels" with a very young Jessica Tandy, "Solid Gold Cadillac" with Judy Holliday, and "Our Town" with Burgess Meredith. John is not only a talented stage performer; he also spent time in the 40’s touring as a trumpet player with the Big Bands.
With the Community Arts Theater Society (CATS) he has been featured in Saul Ilson’s Senior Class, "The Music Man", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Guys & Dolls", "The Odd Couple", "Take Me Along", "A Christmas Carol", "Inherit the Wind", "Carousel" and "Broadway a la Carte". The Inland Theater Guild presented him with two awards the same year for Oscar in "The Odd Couple" and Charlie in "Annie Get Your Gun".
For the Hospital Foundation, John has appeared in "Love Letters" with Elena Peavy and was the lead in "On Golden Pond". Last year, for the Hospital Foundation, he filled the Performing Arts Center for "An Evening with John Grandi and Friends", and played to standing ovations as he told stories of growing up during the depression and war years as the son of Italian immigrants in New York. John is loved for his story-telling style.
John is always there for the community, cheering others on. His column in the Grizzly is extremely popular and his stage for telling stories about other people and what they do for Big Bear.
Adam Christian, director and president of the L. A. Clean Comedians summed up the unique sparkle and warmth of John Grandi on stage. He said, “When John walks on stage, he puts his arms around the audience. John credits all the fun he has to his wonderful wife and partner, Julie, a former TRW executive. John says, “She saved my life and now I’m making the most of it.”
John is a veteran of show business, performing and traveling with the national company of the stage play, "Mr. Roberts", after WWII. He then appeared with a repertory company in "My Three Angels" with a very young Jessica Tandy, "Solid Gold Cadillac" with Judy Holliday, and "Our Town" with Burgess Meredith. John is not only a talented stage performer; he also spent time in the 40’s touring as a trumpet player with the Big Bands.
With the Community Arts Theater Society (CATS) he has been featured in Saul Ilson’s Senior Class, "The Music Man", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Guys & Dolls", "The Odd Couple", "Take Me Along", "A Christmas Carol", "Inherit the Wind", "Carousel" and "Broadway a la Carte". The Inland Theater Guild presented him with two awards the same year for Oscar in "The Odd Couple" and Charlie in "Annie Get Your Gun".
For the Hospital Foundation, John has appeared in "Love Letters" with Elena Peavy and was the lead in "On Golden Pond". Last year, for the Hospital Foundation, he filled the Performing Arts Center for "An Evening with John Grandi and Friends", and played to standing ovations as he told stories of growing up during the depression and war years as the son of Italian immigrants in New York. John is loved for his story-telling style.
John is always there for the community, cheering others on. His column in the Grizzly is extremely popular and his stage for telling stories about other people and what they do for Big Bear.
Adam Christian, director and president of the L. A. Clean Comedians summed up the unique sparkle and warmth of John Grandi on stage. He said, “When John walks on stage, he puts his arms around the audience. John credits all the fun he has to his wonderful wife and partner, Julie, a former TRW executive. John says, “She saved my life and now I’m making the most of it.”