Edith Gwathmey Grassi

Edith Gwathmey Grassi of Chestertown, MD died on January 21, 2025, after being in the thoughtful care of Heron Point of Chestertown for decades. She passed gracefully and with dignity, surrounded by family, at the age of 101. She was born in Westbury, Long Island, NY on September 18, 1923, the daughter of the late Gaines and Edith Gwathmey. She grew up attending sporting events with her parents' friends in Westbury and attended both Greenvale and Friends Academy. She graduated from Chatham Hall School, where, in her words, "with the silliest possible attitude, I absorbed precious little knowledge, but I did absorb a whole lot of high-minded thinking and made lifelong pals". After graduating from Chatham Hall, she met and soon married the late Ettore Howard "Bud" Grassi. Bud courted Edith while he was training at Mitchell Field on Long Island during WWII. After the war, Bud's career in the textile industry moved their family from New York to Baltimore, MD, where they primarily raised their three children. Edith began working at Garrison Forest School Alumni Office as an assistant secretary, the starting point for what would become a lifetime of passion for working in education. In 1964, they purchased a beautiful home amongst the pink granite cliffs of Seal Harbor, Maine. For nearly 30 years, the house in Seal Harbor was a place of many great memories for Edith, including hosting many of her children's friends and later, her grandchildren at the home. In 1980, she and Bud moved to Chestertown, MD where they resided on Water Street for many years and Edith found great joy in volunteering at the local elementary school. She also served kn the Gunston School Board of Trustees, finishing up emeritus. Later they would move to Heron Point, where they both received excellent care for the remainder of their lives. Edith was a devoted member of the Episcopal Church. Wherever she and her family moved, she made sure to find the local Episcopal Church, or the church would find her. She was a member of the Church of the Advent in Westbury, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Baltimore, and eventually Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Chestertown. She enjoyed knitting and was especially talented at knitting figures for church crèches. She made sure to knit items for all her grandchildren, whether it be a sweater or a pair of socks. She adored her grandchildren and cherished their time together immensely. In addition to her parents and her husband of 64 years, she was preceded in death by her son, Temple Grassi, and her brother, Gaines Gwathmey. She is survived by her sister, Nancy Harris; her children: Louise Whitney (Dr. Karen Smith) and Ned Grassi (Judith); daughter-in- law Eleuthera Grassi; grandchildren: Stephen Whitney, Jason Whitney, Eli Whitney, Melissa Purcell (Andrew), Charlotte Ramirez (Alex), and Helen Vest (Chad); great-grandchildren, Emily Whitney, William Whitney, Eleuthera Aukamp, William Aukamp, Lyle Vest, Blair Vest, Andrew Purcell Jr., Sophie Purcell, and Margaret Purcell. Services will be held on Saturday, June 21 at 12:00 pm at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Chestertown, MD. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Gunston School at P.O. Box 200 Centreville, MD 21617.

Edith Gwathmey Grassi

September 18, 1923 - January 21, 2025