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For Ken Granger, it was all about the Mission
The Foundation Fighting Blindness recently lost an extraordinary friend, volunteer, and supporter. Ken Granger was always driven to make a difference in the world and approached every task and challenge with the utmost enthusiasm and determination. His many accomplishments reflected his unquenchable spirit. Shortly before his death, Ken interviewed for the following story, which ran in the Orange County Dining in the Dark dinner journal:
Looking back on Ken’s life, it is no surprise that he didn’t throw in the towel. Born during the great worldwide flu pandemic of 1918, Ken grew up near Youngstown, Ohio, and attended the College of Wooster. But in 1941, he cut his college studies short to join the Army Air Corps and be a part of the response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He became a fighter pilot, flying 118 missions around China and earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses. He was designated as an “Ace” for destroying six enemy aircraft. Ken notes that his vision was 20/15 (better than 20/20) at the time. After returning from the war, he managed a municipal airport near his hometown for six years, and then spent the next four decades as an executive in the aerospace industry — a role that kept him traveling the world. Ken settled in Orange County in 1960, and he has been there ever since. Since losing his vision and his wife, Ken has maintained a schedule that would make anyone half his age dizzy. He says that attending the Braille Institute and getting a guide dog were essential to staying active. Ken went on to hold a current events class at the Institute, and also began teaching conversational English to recent immigrants from all over the world. He now serves on the City of Irvine’s Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board, helping local citizens with disabilities find the resources they need to live well in the community. He has been focused on helping blind people with transportation. Ken finds his work on the board of a nonprofit called Supportability especially rewarding. The organization provides college scholarships to local high school seniors who have overcome some physical or emotional trauma in their lives. In the 1990s, Ken became involved with the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ People and Paws Walk in Orange County. Established by Toni Gavello, the fundraising event evolved into the Orange County VisionWalk. Ken has also been actively and successfully recruiting donors for the Orange County Dining in the Dark since its inception in 2007. Serving as the education chair for the Orange County Chapter, Ken has spoken at local schools and organizations about retinal diseases, and written several papers on research for lay audiences. When asked if he is excited about recent Foundation-funded research advances he replies, “You bet I am. I don’t want people to take for granted what the Foundation is doing and how important this research is.” In May of 2009, Ken was diagnosed with bladder cancer, which has put a bit of a cramp in his style, but chemotherapy and radiation treatments have been successful, and he is itching to get on with his normal activities. At the age of 91, Ken says that his biggest challenge is how he and older people are perceived. “They hear that somebody is 90, and they assume they have Alzheimer’s or are ready to go. They treat you like you are five or six years old. What I am trying to get across is that many of us still think pretty well. We expect and hope that people will listen to us.” When it comes to aging, Ken follows this simple, but profound philosophy: It is acceptable to grow older, but unacceptable to become old. Visit the Foundation’s tribute page to make a gift in Ken’s honor. |
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