Obituary of James Michael Granfield

James “Jim” Michael Granfield, of Cheshire, CT and Machiasport, ME, passed away at his Maine home on the morning of Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Jim spent his final days surrounded by family and friends on the Point of Main(e). Throughout his life he found great pleasure in spending time traveling to visit family and friends throughout the country and visiting with his dear friends from the Netherlands. Jim’s greatest love was the time spent with his wife dreaming of, then building and creating a living legacy at their “Shackteau” and home in Machiasport, Maine. Jim will always be remembered for his tender blue eyes and wit, and forever valued and missed, as one colleague stated, “… for his courage to make a moral and professional difference in the things he associated himself with.” Jim received his doctorate of philosophy from the University of Connecticut in 1990, graduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1980, undergraduate degree from Roger Williams University in 1975 and diploma from Coyle High School in 1969. Jim was locally, nationally and internationally recognized for his work in the field of inclusive communities and education for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities. He had recently retired as Dean of the School of Education at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) where he served as an administrator and faculty since 1993. Prior to this he served as faculty-in-residence and the Director of Exemplary Services/Technical Assistance at the University of Connecticut, University Affiliated Program on Developmental Disabilities. While at SCSU Jim was instrumental in the implementation of the university’s first doctoral program in Educational Leadership; the establishment of several programs for teacher recruitment; the support of programs to address racial inequities in teacher preparation and in the development of tomorrow’s professionals; the development of numerous school district and university partnerships in New Haven and Fairfield counties; and most recently, the creation of a Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders that is the first of its kind for the state of Connecticut. Jim was actively supportive of the work of the CT State Department of Education serving as chairperson of the State Advisory Council on Special Education as well as serving on several advisory panels on teacher certification; scientific, research-based intervention; Vanguard Schools; special education and the state comprehensive plan. Other professional and community service activities included chairperson of Key Services Systems Board of Directors; commissioner for the School Enrichment Committee of the Special Olympics World Games; and board memberships on New Haven’s Citizen Forum on Education; Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven; Governor’s Science, Law, and Social Policy Committee at Yale University and Minority Teacher Recruitment Committee at Area Cooperative Educational Services. In addition to numerous presentations regarding higher education and educator preparation, Jim has numerous professional publications in the areas of education and community living for persons with developmental disabilities. In addition to his wife, Anne Louise Thompson Granfield, originally from Lancaster, PA, he is survived by their daughter Lesley (Singer) Rollins and husband Brian of Raleigh, NC; brother David of New Bedford, MA and his children Brian and Matt; brother Bob and wife Marian (Ricketts) of Youngstown, NY; sister Mary Ellen Benjamin and husband Marc of Taunton, MA and their children Melissa, Kerri and Kevin; as well as step-son Christopher Benstead of NJ; step-daughter Lisa Ganes of FL and her daughter, Justine Benstead. Jim was born in Taunton on February 16, 1951, to the late Thomas and Eileen (McAloon) Granfield, also of Taunton. Remembrances of Jim will be shared by family, friends and colleagues on Sunday, September 12, 2010, at the Orange Congregational Church, 205 Meeting House Road, Orange, CT, 203- 795-9749. Greetings may be offered beginning at 2:00 PM in the church’s Katherine Knight Reception Room. A remembrance celebration will be held at 3:30 PM in the church sanctuary. Guests are invited to remain afterward for light fare and conversation in the lower level Dining Room. Donations may be sent to the Jim and Anne Louise Granfield Endowment Fund in care of Saint Raphael Foundation, 1450 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511, in lieu of flowers. These funds will be used to support the continued beautification of the grotto at the Father Michael J. McGivney Center for Cancer Care where Jim continually conspired with staff to visit while in the care of the hospital and center, and for staff education at the Hospital of Saint Raphael in emotional support for patients and their family members for all those that so skillfully and lovingly gave of themselves for Jim’s care and served as Anne Louise’s support. The family would like to extend sincere gratitude to the many personal and professional friends and staff in the education and medical professions that so significantly contributed over the past 18 months to helping Jim and Anne Louise “live the rest of their life together” surrounded by love.