Beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and steadfast friend, Dr. Elliott Brooks McGrew, Jr. of Valencia, died peacefully at home on December 9, 2013 at the age of 86.
Elliott was a true gentleman and distinguished scholar and teacher who embodied intelligence, passion, dignity, creativity, and grace. He will be remembered fondly by his family and friends for his sense of humor and quick wit, his love of reading and travel, his curiosity of all things, and his incredible mind that remembered everything.
After retiring, Elliott continued to explore his wideranging interests in Western art, film, history, music, and theater; the geography of the American Southwest; Native American cultures; the Civil War; U.S. military history; and ancient cultures and history. He was a docent at the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall since 2001.
For three years, he chaired the “Silents Under the Stars,” a major fund-raiser; was a member of the Board of Trustees; and edited The Hart of the Matter, the newsletter of the Friends of Hart Park from 2010 to 2013.
Elliott served on the board of directors at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Clarita, where both he and Elinor are members.
Elliott is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elinor McGrew, his daughters Rebecca Grace McGrew and Katherine Brooke McGrew, his son-in-law Gary Murphy, his grandson Ian Elliott McGrew-Yule, his brother and sister-in-law Dr. Herbert and Linda McGrew, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews.