Russell Stewart Grant

GRANT, RUSSELL S., 84, of St. Petersburg, died on August 28th, 2012 at Menorah Manor. Born in British Honduras (now Belize), he moved to St. Petersburg in 1979 from Morayshire, Scotland. He was a graduate of St. George's College, Belize, Clifton Hall School, Scotland, St. George's College, Canada, Jefferson Military College, Mississippi and Soule Business College, New Orleans. After school, he returned to Belize and participated in management of an agricultural estate and a mercantile firm. He married Helen Lois Stansbury in 1948. A severe hurricane in 1961 led him to found a new import/export business and department store, James Brodie & Co., as majority shareholder and President. In 1964 he sold his interests in Belize and moved to Scotland to join the Board of the family business and became assistant to the managing director of The Glenlivet Whisky Co. During the period 1964 to 1970 he became managing director of the Glenlivet Whisky Co. and participated in the amalgamation with other family owned Scotch Whisky distilleries and became a director of a new public company - The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd. In 1970 was appointed Production Director of the Glenlivet Distillers Ltd., in charge of the Group's five distilleries and interests in two feed plants. In 1978 a heart condition necessitated going on permanent sick leave from Glenlivet Distillers before retiring. Past membership of Boards, Clubs, Committees include:- Belize: Consul for Sweden, Chairman of Coconut Industry Board, Vice Chairman of National Economic Development Council, President of British Honduras Football Association, Member of Standing Committee of Anglican Diocese of British Honduras, Member of St. John's Cathedral Church Committee, Treasurer of British Honduras Chamber of Commerce, President of Belize Rotary Club, Commodore of Belize Yacht Club, Treasurer of British Honduras Boy Scout Association. Scotland: Management Committee of Malt Distillers Association of Scotland, Scottish Council, Confederation of British Industry, Member of County River Purification Board, Member of Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen in 1965. In 1979 he moved with his wife to Florida. They were members of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. They enjoyed fishing, boating and became active members of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and its cruising fleet. They became US citizens in 1985. He enjoyed golf and all sports as a spectator. He was preceded in death by his son, Charles in 1973, and his wife, Lois in 2003. Survivors include his son Lewis and daughter Marilyn: grandchildren Susanna, Robert, Charles, James, Katie, Joanna and Alexandra: great-grandchildren Leo, Alfie, Robin and Jesse. His family would like to acknowledge the support and friendship given to him by many people in Belize, Scotland and the U.S., particularly Angela and Donna.