Frederick Albert Gricius, 90; Retired Music Teacher, New Canaan Resident

From the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home.

Frederick Albert Gricius of New Canaan passed away peacefully on his 90th birthday, Oct. 8, 2014, surrounded by those he loved.

Fred served in the U.S. Navy during World War II under the Pacific Theater of Operations as radio operator and anti-aircraft gunner on a PT boat. His Squadron 10 fought a successful campaign against Japanese shipping, supporting the US Army’s advance through New Guinea and the Philippine Islands. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

As a musical prodigy, Fred realized a lifelong dream when receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1950. He then began a long and successful career teaching music to schoolchildren in Maine, New York and Cape Cod while receiving and Master’s in Music from Boston University in 1956. He had a second career as a music therapist at the Brockton, MA VA Hospital.

He is survived by: Patricia, his wife of 43 years; his daughter Kathleen from his first marriage to Dorothy Christofori, who died in 1969; his step-daughter Mary Neumann; his grandson James: James’s wife Sarah Neumann; and his beloved great-granddaughters, Emma Rose Neumann and Abigail Katherine Neumann. His daughter Joanne Gricius, a highly talented artist and photographer, suffered an untimely death in 2004.

Visiting hours and a service will be from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 13 at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Boston Post Rd., Darien. A graveside service is scheduled at noon Oct. 14 at the Pine Hills Cemetery, West Bridgewater, MA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or Person-to-Person, 1864 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820.