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
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18