Monday, February 25, 2008
George Peter Grau III, 69, a retired security officer with the CIA, died Feb. 19 of congestive heart failure at his home in
Kensington. Mr. Grau was born in the District and graduated from Gonzaga College High School in 1956. He received his
undergraduate degree in philosophy in 1960 from Georgetown University, where he worked part time as an athletic trainer with
Joe Kuczo, who also was a trainer for the Redskins. Thanks to Kuczo, Mr. Grau also worked for the Redskins during the 1960
season.
He served on active duty as an Army officer from 1961 to 1963 and retired from the reserves as a major in 1986.
He joined the CIA in 1963, working as a security officer in Washington except for two years in Alice Springs, Australia. He
received a number of exceptional service awards, culminating in the Career Intelligence Medal when he retired in 1995.
For a couple of years after his retirement, the native Washingtonian was a D.C. tour guide. "He loved it," his wife said. He usually
conducted bus tours but once led 65 sixth-graders on Metro. "Everybody got where they were supposed to go," his wife recalled.
In 1996, he became a security officer for Lockheed Martin, retiring a second time in 2007.
For almost 30 years, he volunteered as the athletic trainer for the Gonzaga High football team. "He was there every Saturday
afternoon in the fall," his wife said. "He never had to rake a leaf"
Mr. Grau was elected to the Gonzaga High Hall of Fame in 1996.
He also worked as a high school and junior college basketball official for almost 30 years.
A member of St. Catherine Laboure Parish in Wheaton since 1963, he served on the parish council, coached Catholic Youth
Organization football and was a lector, usher and Eucharistic minister. With his wife, he conducted marriage preparation
classes for parishioners. He was CYO president at the parish level and was a member of the Arimatheans, a group of men and
women who serve at funeral Masses.
Mr. Grau loved travel, playing golf with his sons and listening to music. "Granddaddy, don't you ever listen to music with words?"
a granddaughter once asked.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Ann Leahigh Grau of Kensington; a brother; two sons, George Peter Grau IV of Bethesda
and James Grau of Derwood; and five grandchildren.
-- Joe Holley