Celebrate the Life of Activist and Friend, Maurice Grossman

Maurice Grossman, a long time Pima County Democratic acivist and simply "the nicest person you'd ever want to meet," passed away last week due to complications following heart surgery. He was 82.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 5:30 PM on Sunday, Feb. 7, at the Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave.

Maurice was a native of Michigan. In 1955, he moved to Tucson, where he founded the University of Arizona's Ceramic Arts program the following year. He taught at the UA for 35 years and was the recipient of the UA's Creative Teaching Award.

Maurice studied in Japan as a Fullbright Scholar, and he received a National Endowment for the Arts grant in 1986. He was internationally recognized for his pottery, and very involved in the local arts community.

Maurice worked tirelessly on Democratic Party causes. After the death of his wife, he came out as a gay man, and he fought for GLBT rights, as well as many other social causes.

"He was simply the nicest person you'd ever want to meet," said Jeff Rogers, Pima County Democratic Party chair. "We will miss his generosity of time and his effort, but what we'll really miss is the man we knew and admired."

Doug Noffsinger, a long time friend of Grossman's, told the Arizona Daily Star of Mr. Grossman: "He's probably registered more people to vote in Pima County than any other living person. And he always did that in outfits like an Uncle Sam hat, or a red, white and blue boa."

Maurice is survived by two children, Lauren and Stephen Grosman, both of Seattle. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Gracey Grossman, and his oldest daughter, Barbara Jean Grossman.

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