James Allen Grant

James Allen Grant, also known by his college nickname of JAG, passed away at home on February 13, 2025, at the age of 74. Above all, he cherished his family. He adored his wife, Phoenix, and they did everything together. They loved to travel far and wide, especially to visit family. He was a playful and generous Pop or Poppi, and uncle. He would enlist the kids in projects, share his vast knowledge and collections, send articles and cards to them, and attend their events. He could always be heard sharing a story. A proud alumnus of the College of William & Mary, Allen was the university's first graduate to earn a degree in botany. Throughout his life, he was enthusiastic about Homecoming, a proud Phi Tau brother, and was honored to be a member the Olde Guarde, maintaining lifelong friendships with fellow alumni. Allen’s career in environmentalism spanned four decades, during which he worked with the EPA, Dynamac, and SAIC. He was particularly proud of his role in creating the EPA’s pesticide registration database, LUIS. A passionate advocate for the natural world, he was an avid mycologist and spent countless hours in the garden. He was also a founding member of the Takoma Park-Silver Spring Co-op natural food store, embodying his commitment to sustainability and healthy living. Allen attended Woodstock in 1969, where he experienced firsthand the cultural revolution that shaped much of his life. He adopted a vegetarian lifestyle after the festival, though he made exceptions for the local shrimp, crab, and oysters local to his Southern Maryland home. Music was a constant in his life—whether rocking out to The Doors and Joan Jett or attending the opera in a tux with bows in his braided beard, he had an insatiable passion for both classic rock and classical music. He never missed a chance to relax on the beach with Jimmy Buffett playing. A lover of literature, Allen was an avid reader with a particular fondness for sci-fi, books about history, and any movie with Samuel L. Jackson. He was a proud Scotsman and a notable collector of stamps, coins, and other treasures. In the 1970s, he participated in an archaeological dig at Yorktown, and he was an enthusiastic visitor of old forts and battlefields. He even appeared in the first "Virginia Is For Lovers" ad campaign in Modern Bride in 1969. Allen’s zest for life and wide-ranging interests extended to his passion for the outdoors. A proud Jeep lover, he found joy in off-roading at the farm and driving with the top down. His was an excellent handball player and loved to toss a Frisbee. His love for the outdoors was reflected in his travels and his deep connection to nature, and indeed he had a strong identity as a naturist. He had a remarkable ability to connect with people from all walks of life, accumulating friends wherever he went. He had a childlike wonder that never faded, and his joyful, tender nature made him universally loved. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. He is survived by his beloved wife, Phoenix; daughter Mai Magliocco (husband Mario) and grandson Guy; son Wynter Grant (wife Stacy) and grandsons London and Nolan, and granddaughter Isla; stepdaughter Jessica Smith (husband Paul) and grandson Ross; stepson Gabriel Valentine (partner Connie) and grandson Wolfgang, granddaughter Violet, step-granddaughters Meira and Aydree; sisters Suzanne Grant (husband Don) and nephew Nicholas Harper; Peggy Minkler (husband Michael), nephew Max Minkler, and niece Anna Minkler; Lucinda Clarke (husband Bill) and niece Lauren; as well as many other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Aldrich Grant and Margaret Jane Allen Grant. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on February 27, 2025, at Holy Comforter Church in Vienna, VA. Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.