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Deaths

Arthur Gravinia | Alexandra Grilikhes

Arthur Gravina, Facility Management

Arthur A. Gravina, former vice president of Facilities Management, died on February 2, at his home in Medford, New Jersey, at the age of 55.

Mr. Gravina was born in Rochester, NY and was a graduate of Lehigh University. He joined Penn in 1984 as director of physical plant, becoming associate vice president of Facilities Operations in 1986. He was named acting vice president for Facilities Management in 1987 and was subsequently named vice president. He served on the transition team when Penn outsourced Facilities Management to Trammell Crow Company in October 1997. He left Penn later that year to become vice president for facilities services and corporate planning for Einstein Health Care Network in Philadelphia. Mr. Gravina had worked at U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh as a division superintendent before coming to Penn.

Mr. Gravina is survived by his wife, Joyce; two sons, Bradley and Kevin; his parents, Orlando and Rose Gravina; two brothers, Thomas and his twin, Robert; and one sister, Carol. Donations may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society 1626 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Alexandra Grilikhes, Librarian

Alexandra (Sondra) Grilikhes, retired Annenberg School for Communication librarian, died on February 8, of breast cancer at her home in Roxborough at the age of 70.

Ms. Grilikhes, was born in New York City, and received her B.A. from Queens College of the City University of New York. She earned her M.L.S. From Columbia University and studied art history at Bryn Mawr College.

Ms. Grilikhes joined Penn in 1969 as librarian of the Annenberg School for Communication Library, became its department head in 1984 and retired in 1989. She was also a novelist and her book Yin Fire was published in 2001. It was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award. She also had nine small press collections of her poetry published. Ms. Grilikhes also published and edited the literary arts journal American Writing: A Magazine, for 12 years until it ceased publication in 2002. She also produced four international festivals of films by women at the Annenberg Center. Additionally, in the 1970s and 1980s she produced literary programs on public radio here in Philadelphia. She also taught literary writing courses at the University of the Arts.

She is survived by her partner, Elizabeth Weiss; two sisters, Phyllis Maxwell, and Nancy Grilikhes; a brother, Michael; and an aunt, Dorothy Krainin. Services will be held on Monday, March 3 at Congregation Mishkan Shalom, 4101 Freeland Avenue, in Roxborough.

To Report A Death: Almanac appreciates being informed of the deaths of current and former faculty and staff members, students, and other members of the Penn community. Please send information or call (215) 898-5274 or e-mail almanac@pobox.upenn.edu.

 


  Almanac, Vol. 49, No. 22, February 18, 2003

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