Warren Arthur Grossetta, Jr.'s Obituary
Captain Warren A. Grossetta USN (Ret) died October 14, 2011. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years Margaret, his daughter, Linda Renfro (Gary) of Pinetop, his son Warren of Christchurch, N.Z., five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Warren was a native Tucsonan and the son of native Tucsonans, a rarity for someone of his vintage. He attended University Heights, Mansfeld Junior High and Tucson High School. He often remarked that he was most fortunate to have had such wonderful teachers to start him out in life. Captain Grossetta entered the U.S. Naval Academy June 9, 1939 with the class of ' 43.On Graduation in June 1942 he was ordered for duty aboard the destroyer Jarvis operating in the South Pacific. Fortunately for him he never made connection with Jarvis as she was torpedoed during the invasion of Guadalcanal and disappeared with all hands on her way to Australia for emergency repairs. In April 1943 Lt(jg) Grossetta received orders to attend Submarine School in New London, Connecticut. Upon completion of Sub School in September of that year he was assigned to a submarine operating out of Fremantle, Western Australia and he served in submarines in the Pacific Theater for the remainder of World War II. He made seven War Patrols and was awarded the Silver Star Medal and Bronze Star Medal and the Submarine Combat Pin with four stars. On his first day in Fremantle a friend introduced him to Margaret Nunn, a lovely Aussie nurse. Some 20 months later his submarine was back in Fremantle and on August 13, 1945(two days before WWII ended) Margaret and Warren were married. For the next 24 years they enjoyed their life together in the navy mostly with the Submarine family. Captain Grossetta retired from the Navy in July 1969 and dragging Margaret they returned to Tucson. It took several months away from the ocean before Margaret became happy with life in the desert. But soon both were active in civic affairs. Captain Grossetta owned a small business for a couple of years and then was the Chief Deputy Clerk of the U.S. District Court for several years. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Tucson, a life member of the Board of Directors of Tucson Chapter of the American Red Cross and for many years served on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2011 at 3:00 PM at the Tucson Country Club. Arrangements by EVERGREEN MORTUARY & CEMETERY.
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