Temple Grassi

died peacefully from metastatic melanoma in his Chevy Chase home surrounded by his family

on September 17th, at the age of 74. He was a graduate of Woodberry Forest in Orange,

Virginia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduating from UNC, Temple

began his teaching career at The Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland, moving to the Allen

Stevenson School in New York City, and at the Landon School, in Bethesda, Maryland, where

he taught for the remaining 22 years of his 32 year career. Although Temple retired, he

remained a lifelong educator in the art of being a proper sportsman, gentleman, and clubman.

An accomplished sportsman, Temple played football, soccer, and lacrosse while at Woodberry

Forest. He would eventually become co-captain of the lacrosse team and ultimately bring his

skills to UNC where he played for 4 years. During his summers, when not in Northeast Harbor,

Temple was a camper and, later, a counselor at Camp Kieve in Nobleboro, Maine. His love of

Woodberry, UNC, and Kieve had no bounds. Until his last day, he could be found following the

football and lacrosse teams for both Woodberry and UNC and singing the second verse of the

Kieve Alma Mater loud and clear for all to hear.

After moving to New York City, Temple was introduced to what would become his great

obsession, court tennis - a game few know, but many love. He met his lovely wife, Eleuthera,

and together they moved to Washington D.C., where he began a 15 year quest to build a court

tennis court. Ultimately, Temple was successful and Princes Court opened up in McLean,

Virginia. It was then that the nickname was born, “The Ambassador”, as he would continue until

his dying day to teach and educate anyone who would listen about his beautiful sport.

“The Ambassador” was predeceased by his father, Ettore H.A. “Bud” Grassi and is survived by

his mother, Edith Gwathmey Grassi; wife Eleuthera S. Grassi; elder sister, Louise Whitney

(Karen); younger brother, Edward Grassi (Judith); daughters Melissa Purcell (Andrew), Charlotte

Aukamp, and Helen Vest (Chad); 5 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Memorial Service on October 26th at 11 AM, located at

the Washington National Cathedral. The Family asks, in lieu of flowers, to please make a

donation to The United States Court Tennis Preservation Foundation, attention The Junior

Development Program, using the website: https://usctpf.org/player-development/ or mailing

address: USCTPF, c/o Jane Lippincott – Treasurer, P.O. Box 194, Jamestown, RI 02835