Jerrold Granok, of Pagosa Springs, Colo., passed away on Nov. 28 after a long period of declining health. Jerry was born in 1940 in Chicago, Ill., to Benjamin and Rose Granok. He was raised in Chicago and graduated from Roosevelt High School, returning many times over the years for Rough Rider reunions. He then attended the University of Chicago, where he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. Upon graduation, he took a job as an industrial chemist at Armour. During his years at Armour, he met and married Tara Allen, who was an elementary school teacher in the Chicago suburbs. The couple had twin sons, Alexander and Howard, and moved to Albuquerque, N.M., in 1969. Jerry and Tara divorced in 1980, but they kept in contact, sharing in their sons’ life events, throughout the remainder of their lives.
In Albuquerque, Jerry left the field of industrial chemistry and embarked on what was then the new field of computer programming, working for the surveying company commonly known as “M&Q,” plotting the street layout for the new city of Rio Rancho, N.M. He continued his work in the IT field with the Bernalillo County, N.M., government, and then took a job with the Public Service Company of New Mexico in 1977. He would stay with PNM for the rest of his professional career, retiring as a senior consulting programmer analyst in 1997.
After retirement, Jerry moved to Pagosa Springs, Colo., so that he could enjoy mountain vistas and the dark, star-filled skies. This allowed him to pursue two of his hobbies, photography and astronomy. Jerry entered and won prizes in several local photography contests over the years, and was an active member of the Chimney Rock Interpretive Association and astronomical societies in both New Mexico and Colorado. He found great joy in practicing T’ai Chi Chih, becoming a certified instructor, and was also an avid ballroom dancer.
Jerry was predeceased by his parents, Benjamin and Rose Granok, of Chicago, Ill., and is survived by his children, son Dr. Alexander Granok, MD and his wife, April Shaw, of Manchester, N.H.; son Dr. Howard Granok, Ph.D. and his wife, Jodi Granok (Honigbaum), of Saint Louis, Mo.; sister Margaret Granok and her husband, Michael Carroll, of Ellicott City, Md.; nieces Beth and Faye Carroll; nephew Frank Carroll; and one grandson, Eadric Granok, of Manchester, N.H. Jerry has opted for cremation, and there will be no public funeral service. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in Jerry’s honor may contribute to the charitable organization of their choice.
