Sharon Lea Griscom

Sharon Lea Griscom, who brought her extensive travel abroad, and her love of history, language, and culture into the Greeneville classroom for more than 25 years, died Friday, July 8, 2022. Ms. Griscom was 76 and had been ill for many months; her daughter, Sara Xochitl Griscom, was by her side and had been caring for her over the last months of her life. “We are the better for knowing my mother,” said Sara Griscom. “My mother set out to be a great teacher, and to make the world a better place. I know she succeeded.” Ms. Griscom, a long-time teacher, was known for sharp wit—and vibrant tongue. Her strong spirit and resolve served her well, and she was an unremitting fighter for justice and just causes. She was a proud die-hard social liberal—and always an advocate for the underdog. She came from a long line of intelligent, talented, and creative women who advocated for the finest quality of life for all people. Her students at Washington College Academy, in Limestone, Tennessee, and at West Greene High School, in Greeneville, Tennessee, where she taught for more than 25 years, always knew they could come to her for support and advice, particularly during difficult times. Her eclectic thinking made her an inspiration to a generation of students. At a time when her style of teaching was healthily outside-of-the-box, she included traditional dance, music, film, theater, and cuisine of the cultures in her lessons to reach and thoroughly engage her students—which was a joy for both students and teacher. She made learning fun—and many a gentleman who may never have stepped foot on the dance floor before remembers the times Ms. Griscom had them doing the salsa!Sharon Lea Griscom was born on June 25, 1946, in Greeneville, Tennessee, at “Old Laughlin Hospital.” She was the daughter of Wanna Lea O’Donovan (née Lane), and Terence “Terry” O’Donovan, both from Greeneville. He worked in management at both the Austin Company and MECO in Greeneville. Ms. Griscom’s mother’s mother was Georgia Alma “Georgie Momma” Lane of Greeneville, and her mother’s father was George Ruther “George R.” Lane. Both Georgie Momma and George R. were beloved members of the Greeneville community; George R. founded and operated George R. Lane’s, one of Greeneville’s leading clothing stores. Ms. Griscom worked at the store as a child, and she and George R. often took drives together to explore nature and the surrounding areas. Their bond left an impression and endured throughout Ms. Griscom’s life. Ms. Griscom was a voracious reader from an early age, with a hunger for language, history, religion—and all-things Nancy Drew. She was valedictorian of her 1964 high school graduating class at Greeneville High School; a National Merit Scholar finalist; and awarded several academic scholarships, including a scholarship to Michigan State for mathematics, and full scholarships to The University of Tennessee in Knoxville and the Universidad de las Americas in Mexico City. She later graduated from Tusculum College, where she also had been awarded a scholarship. Ms. Griscom was recognized for her intellect, although not everyone knew that she was—quite literally—off-the-charts intelligent, as her IQ test results were beyond the highest numbers of the time. In addition, she was named The Tobacco Queen and The Greeneville Sun’s February Calendar Girl during her high school years. She had tremendous talent as a classical piano player, and she often played and performed complicated pieces from Rachmaninoff, Bach, Beethoven, and Ernesto Lecuona, composer of “Malaguena.” She played “Malaguena” about a little girl from Malaga, Spain, as part of a scholarship awarded to her that she then used to attend the Universidad de las Américas. This later revealed itself to being quite serendipitous. While attending the Universidad de las Américas, in Mexico City, Ms. Griscom met and later married Frederick “Derick” Bronson Grissom of New York. Ms. Griscom would always comment that her relationship with Derick was “love at first sight.” Mr. Griscom was exceptionally accomplished in his own right; he was an editor of The Harvard Crimson and a graduate from Harvard University with honors, a Rockefeller Foundation grant recipient, an inspirational classical and jazz piano player, and more than proficient in seven languages. The Griscoms were an outstanding couple. During their marriage, Mr. and Ms. Griscom resided primarily in Cuernavaca, Mexico; Majorca, Spain; and Malaga, Spain, where they had their daughter, Sara—the little girl from Malaga. Ms. Griscom eventually returned to Greeneville, with her daughter, Sara, where she lived for the rest of her years. Her grandparents on her father’s side were Elsie Bailiff O’Donovan, originally from the Abingdon, Virginia, area, and Patrick O’Donovan of Cork, Ireland. Elsie Bailiff attended The Martha Washington School for Girls in what is now The Martha Washington Inn, in Abingdon, Virginia. She went on to the Boston Conservatory with a scholarship in piano, where she met Patrick O’Donovan—then on tour teaching hypnosis used as anesthesia for surgery at medical universities around the world. O’Donovan was raised in India, where his father was stationed as a physician in the British Army, and, as a young man, in India, discovered and became adept at hypnosis. O’Donovan eventually joined the British Army, and became a Champion Broad Swordsman and distinguished Bengal Lancer. He was later stationed with his father in Arabia, where he used hypnosis to anesthetize his father’s patients. (He was also, when he arrived in the United States, Theodore Roosevelt’s personal trainer.) Ms. Griscom’s sister, Teresa O’Donovan, pre-deceased her sister. Teresa was especially dear and precious to Ms. Griscom. Ms. Griscom is survived by her daughter, Sara, of Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. She is also survived by two first cousins, Steve and Sam Lane, sons of Howard Orton “Buddy” Lane, George R.’s son, who was a graduate from Vanderbilt University and an esteemed World War II veteran. Steve and Sam are both of Greenville. Ms. Griscom touched the lives of so many people. Her travels and out-of-the-box thinking influenced her teaching methods, and inspired her to share her wonderful love of learning. Her students learned about ideas and subjects they might not ever have known—including new ways of thinking and seeing the world—and we all are the better for knowing her. Thank you for the music, Momma.There will be a memorial service for Ms. Griscom in the Christ Chapel at First Presbyterian Church, 110 N. Main St., Greeneville, Tennessee, on Saturday, September 17, at 3:30 p.m.In lieu of flowers, offerings can be made to First Presbyterian Church in memory of Sharon Lea Griscom.Read Obituary