LIHU‘E — Former Princeville resident Linda Grover, whose daughter, son-in-law and seven grandchildren live in Anahola, is being remembered both as a patient peace advocate and tireless worker bent on getting a national and international holiday dedicated to world peace.
LIHU‘E — Former Princeville resident Linda Grover, whose daughter, son-in-law and seven grandchildren live in Anahola, is being remembered both as a patient peace advocate and tireless worker bent on getting a national and international holiday dedicated to world peace.
Grover, 76, died at The Washington (D.C.) Home Community Hospice on Feb. 20 after battling uterine and ovarian cancer.
She had friends and colleagues in high places, including U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai‘i.
“I was saddened to learn of the passing of Linda Grover,” Inouye said in an e-mail.
“She will be remembered for serving as a dedicated advocate for peace and for her tireless commitment to raise awareness for Global Family Day,” he said.
“Her career and accomplishments will forever serve as a great example to us all. Her work as a peace activist, author, artist and Congressional staffer made her a true renaissance woman.
“She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends,” Inouye said.
Inouye was Grover’s “champion in the Senate,” said Cindy Grover, her daughter and a sales and marketing professional with AirVentures air tours and charters on Kaua‘i.
Linda Grover wrote her book, “Tree Island,” while living at the Hale Mo‘i condominiums in Princeville, and felt a special bond with this island because of its inclusiveness, tranquility and spirit of ‘ohana she sought to replicate around the world, Cindy Grover said.
“A lot of people on the island knew her. She had a tremendous amount of love for this island,” and concern not only for her grandchildren but all the children of the island, Cindy Grover said.
She last visited Kaua‘i in the summer of 2009. There is no Kaua‘i service planned, but a June tribute was scheduled in Washington, D.C., Cindy Grover said.
“The real Hawai‘i connection has more I feel to do with her observing the true meaning and scope of ‘ohana learned here in these islands, especially as she watched her daughter and unborn grandson after the hurricane and marveled at the caring community we have here,” said Cindy Grover.
“She would remark that we are a model for the world with the way we teach aloha and kahiau (to give without expectation of return) instead of the far more prevalent self-serving model,” she said.
“We lost a dedicated and tireless voice for the pursuit of peace and global sharing and cooperation” with the death of Linda Grover, said Michigan U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Detroit, on the floor of the House last month.
“I joined Ms. Grover in the founding of Global Family Day, an effort to celebrate and promote harmony within the global family every January 1st, but it was Linda whose every undertaking was in the name of Global Family Day,” he said.
Cindy Grover said her family remains united toward that end.
“Mrs. Grover’s love for her family and her legacy of peace will never be forgotten,” said Ohio U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Cleveland.
In addition to daughter Cindy Grover and sons Steven Grover of Berkeley, Calif., and Jamie Grover of Santa Cruz, Calif., Linda Grover leaves behind seven grandchildren in Anahola: Alia Weiss, Kanoa Nartatez, Makana Weiss, Shania Weiss, Ian Nartatez, Amber Weiss and Bronze Weiss; and son-in-law Jeff Weiss.
More information on Global Family Day is available at gfday.org and gfday.com.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
