Arthur M Grant

Arthur Mitchell Grant

July 3, 1946 - June 15, 2021

Arthur Mitchell Grant was born on July 3, 1946 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was the only child of Roberta Yearwood. Arthur was raised by his mother, and grandmother, Augusta Grant. He was a Cambridge resident for all his life, only living within three blocks of all his residences—School Street, Washington Street, Pine Street, and finally Cherry Street where he lived for 38 years with his wife and raised their son.

Arthur went to the Webster School for elementary and middle school, then attended the Cambridge High and Latin school in 1962 before it merged with the Rindge Technical School to become the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. In addition to his general studies, he was a member of the Glee Club. He graduated in 1966.

Following graduation, Arthur went right into the workforce, working at New England Gas & Electric Association, now known as Eversource. He worked his way up from the mailroom to a computer operator—keeping the then “large” computer machines operational. He retired after 34 years of dedicated service.

Arthur was a man of few words, but he wrote the most special letters to a young woman, Florence Moreno, in Panama. Through the help of mutual friend Pat Davis, those special letters started their courtship thousands of miles away. Arthur and Florence married in 1975. As newlyweds, they traveled all over together.

From their union, they had their only child, Christopher Grant in 1981, just a few years before they moved into their forever home on Cherry Street. Last year Arthur and Florence celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.

Arthur enjoyed keeping a schedule and routine—even after retiring, Arthur kept the same 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. work schedule for many years. You could set your watch to the moment he would walk down the stairs to enjoy his meal before heading to watch his favorite TV shows. He was also a meticulous saver of all things and an excellent record keeper—he saved everything. As a young man, Arthur enjoyed Judo, wrestling, and bowling. After retiring, Arthur would often be seen working the polls during local and national elections. He enjoyed going to the movie theater with his son. Arthur also enjoyed his yearly November trip to Cape Cod with his mother and step-father.

He had satirical humor; you couldn’t help but shake your head and sometimes laugh along with him. Arthur was affectionately known as grandpa to his three granddaughters, Layla, Jade, and Riley. He enjoyed hanging out with them. Together Florence and Arthur hosted many sleepovers, and he drew the best bubble baths. You would often catch them sitting in grandpa’s lap and on his shoulders watching cartoons together in the den. His granddaughters' love of gourmet cheese pizza was because of Arthur—getting them several boxes of Bertucci's cheese pizza every time they came over to visit.

If you had the pleasure of hanging around Arthur when good “old school” music was playing, you got to see a different side of Arthur. It was as if music transformed him. He would close his eyes, becoming one with the music, dancing and singing to himself without a care for what was going on around him. One of his favorite songs was, Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas. This song means a lot more now, as Arthur fought the last 12 years with aggressive prostate cancer. It meant a lot for Arthur to spend his last four months under his own roof with his wife and son by his bedside daily.

Arthur’s legacy is survived through his devoted and loving wife, Florence; his son, Christopher and his wife Donnaree; and his granddaughters: Layla, Jade, and Riley. Arthur was preceded in death by his grandmother, Augusta Grant; mother, Roberta F. G. Yearwood; and stepfather, Oliver Yearwood.

Interment will be at the Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge, Ma.

There will be a public memorial service in honor and celebration of Arthur’s life at A.J. Spears Funeral Home in Cambridge on Friday, June 25, 2021. Wake 10-11 a.m. followed by the memorial service 11 a.m.-12 p.m. By request of the family, masks will be required during the wake and service.

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