Richard Kevin Grape, Sr.

Richard K. Grape, Sr., known to his friends and family as “Rick”, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 63 on June 2, 2022 at his son’s home in Crawfordville, Florida surrounded by family. Rick was born in Baltimore and raised in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. He spent much of his youth in Crownsville enjoying time with his childhood German Shepherd Rex, with his family on the Severn River, golfing with his father – he will never forget that hole-in-one, going to Orioles games, and visiting Annapolis. A true Marylander at heart, Rick loved being on the water, he loved food – especially fresh blue crabs smothered in Old Bay, oysters, hominy, and scrapple, and he loved to cook. The keeper of his family’s crab cake recipe, he spent many years perfecting it. Rick moved to South Florida where he graduated from Florida Atlantic University, becoming focused on Business Administration, which lead him to a robust career at IBM. He could often be seen driving his Ford Mustang, spending time at the beach and by the pool, working around the house, and playing softball. Here he married his first wife, Kim Dunham, and was blessed with two sons. A dedicated father with strong character, he coached his children’s baseball and soccer teams, enjoyed fishing, bike riding, playing frisbee, and all other things that boys do. His children learned through experience, just as the kids did in his favorite movies A Christmas Story and The Sandlot. After leaving South Florida, Rick lived in Southbury, Connecticut where he came to love the greenery of the northeast woods and crisp fall mornings. Rick and his children enjoyed annual trips to Moosehead Lake, Maine and spent evenings stargazing, reading Harry Potter, and watching his favorite Sci-fi series Farscape and Stargate. A lover of music, he had eclectic taste that ranged from Queen and Crash Test Dummies to Harry Connick Jr., Andre Bocelli, and many more. While in Connecticut, Rick married his second wife, Mignonne Simoneaux. They enjoyed traveling throughout the northeast, taking advantage of opportunities to ski, visit historical sites, and sample the unique restaurants and cuisine of the region. A social and outgoing person, Rick enjoyed attending local events including annual bald eagle viewing and end-of-season ski jumping festivals. A reflective and introspective soul, Rick enjoyed reading diverse authors, from Marcus Aurelius and the stoics to Stephen King and Tom Clancy. He brought a well-rounded and worldly view with a witty sense of humor to any conversation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rick moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where lockdowns stifled his outgoing nature. Rick endured these challenging times by reading, watching the news, tweeting, and having daily FaceTime with his children and granddaughter. Prior to his death, Rick moved to the Florida Panhandle where he got to spend time with his sons and granddaughter, witness the birth of his grandson, and once again enjoy nature and the coast. Rick was preceded in death by his father and mother, Edward F. Grape, Sr. and Mary E. Grape, and two brothers, Edward F. Grape, Jr. and Robert M. Grape. He is survived by his two sons, Richard K. Grape, Jr. and Randall T. Grape, two grandchildren, Seraphina H. Grape and Bacchus V. Grape, his wife, Mignonne Simoneaux, and sister, Mary Eileen Roth. Our hearts are broken with his passing, and he will be deeply missed by his family and friends. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Friday, June 10, 2022 from 10:30am – 12:30pm with prayer service from 12:30 – 1 pm at MacNabb Funeral Home (301 Frederick Rd, Catonsville, MD 21228). Interment will follow at Meadowridge Memorial Gardens Cemetery (Elkridge, MD). To send condolences to the family please visit https://www.macnabbfuneral.com/