Grant Weisenborn
He was a leader. The thing that interested Grant so much was his observation of human behavior. He became an expert in drawing people out from their shells.
He didn't care too much for the accumulation of possesions. Rather, his jam was gathering experiences.
Before Grant and I could legally obtain driver's licences for cars, we rode smaller street-legal dirt bikes. And, before the motorcycles we rode our Schwinn ten- speed bicycles around Arlington Heights. Once, we snuck out and pedalled to Fox Lake in the evening and then back in the dawn.
One of my favorite memories from our young motorcycle times involved us going into a redneck bar. Grant had grown his hair out long and would be viewed by anyone as a Hippie. The place was a long bar with stools all along the bar. I could sense right away that we were in hostile terratory. Things got completely silent when we walked in. It was an uncomfortable scene for all involved, except for Grant. He led me in the long, slow, under-age stroll from the front door to the farthest set of stools at the back of the bar. During the long, slow walk, Grant was whistling the theme from The Andy Griffith Show. We found our stools and waited for the bartender to make his own long, slow walk to our new location deep within the quiet tavern.
So, that was what hanging with Grant was always like. You expected to be taken out of your comfort zone. You expected that the others around you, would also be taken out of their comfort zones.
I recall many pleasant afternoons in Grant's basement listening to new music. Grant was the first to turn me on to Jimi Hendrix.
At the end of his all-too-short life he was working in a mental hospital. Which I can only imagine was an uncommon experience that he was processing in his own uncommon, unique mind.
Sadly, Grant Weisenborn departed the planet way too soon. His death was caused by an accidental drug overdose. Whenever I think of Grant these days, I am flooded with memories of Grant and FIREWORKS!
He was completely authentic and original. He was a wonderful friend.
Stan Parker, class of '72
Great memories of Grant, Stan, thank you for sharing and kindling a few of my own of him. I first met Grant in 6th Grade, I was a recent transfer from Catholic Grade School in New Jersey and was put in class with Grant. He was among the very first to introduce himself, in a way only Grant could---"want to see my snake bite kit" he asked me at my first public school recess time. Taken aback by both his quick and friendly introduction and the question he asked, I simply said "Sure". And out of his pocket it came, complete with Grants interpretation of how to use it. He then closed that first intro with, "want to come over after school, I have a baby alligator I can show you". I half agreed to that at the time, but by the 3rd day of school there, I did come over in what would be the first of many trips to Grants through Jr High, High School and a year or two after High School. Like Stans words seem to indicate, time with Grant was learning time--learning of things and ways and thoughts you might not stumble onto by yourself. Learning of new music was a staple at Grants, and later in Grants basement. Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk, Leon Russell at a time when most had not yet heard of those names. Grant prided himself too on saying he was the first to learn of Jimi Hendrix's passing. He took my place working before school at the AH Post Office and heard the very first early radio report of that event, so I guess Grant did hear it first afterall. Grant was creative and inventive. He jumped into the Leather Belt fad in the early days, still while in HS, getting trained by "some guy in Old Town". Grant would create the coolest Leather Belts, complete with designs and matching Belt Buckles. My dad once remarked after seeing Grants product and hearing his pitch on how to sell them, "that kid will be a millionaire before any of us". I recall he making a deal with the Just Jeans owner in Arlington Heights to sell his belts in the store, and sell they did, but the point came where the owner couldnt pay Grant what he owed him for the Belts, so Grant said "let me have that motorcycle of yours". That Motorcyle turned out to be a British made Matchless chopper---Grant atop that bike, complete with his Snoopy Red Baron Leather cap, goggles and half a cigar in his mouth, and cut off vest was something out of movie. What a character Grant was. But what a human he was too. He found an off road riding place for us for our dirt bikes, on Hintz Road, towards Wheeling High School, an old gravel pit some may remember driving by. He and I rode our bikes there one day, I got in a very bad wipe out, complete with broken teeth, torn chin and mouth, other kids that saw me there, gasped, rode away, were too frightened to even help. Grant rode over, realized what happened, said take your shirt off, press it to your chin and mouth, hop on the back of my bike and I'll get you home and to the hospital--and so he did, running every light, and passing any car in our way. God Bless you for that Grant---you left us all far too early--so much more to learn and explore from and with you. Bill Regan 72'
tribute by Bill ReganStan, I see Grant's mom & dad and oldest sister from time to time. I'm sure they would be pleased to hear that he was remembered and is missed. I'll pass your remembrance along to them as possible. Are you sure that's not a pic of John Lennon you posted??? Take care.
tribute by Jane Nero (Antrim)