Dennis Robert Grisco

Dennis Robert Grisco, age 82 passed away Sunday December 18, 2022 at home surrounded by his family. Born September 21, 1940 in Chicago Illinois to Jerome Grisco and Anne (Whitney) Grisco the 7th of 10 children. He moved with his family to Los Angeles when he was 13. He graduated from Belmont High School and completed 5 years at LA Trade Technical school with a Plumbers Apprentice certificate and a trophy for perfect attendance, while simultaneously apprenticing as a plumber under his father.

Dennis was preceded in death by his son Glenn Grisco, parents Jerome & Anne Grisco, brothers Jerome, Briane, Donald & Randy and sisters Anne & Gloria.
Dennis is survived by his wife of 60 years Rosalina, son William Grisco, daughter in law Mimi Grisco, daughters Denise Grisco and Deidre (Marc) van Eekeren, 7 grandchildren Tiffany, Shayne, Trevor, Sarah, Anna, Isabella & Emma, 4 great grandchildren Abbey, Ari, Alexia and Levi and his siblings Patricia Dahl, Richard Grisco and Christina Grisco.

As young men the Grisco brothers all had a love for birds and especially falcons. They learned and practiced falconry when LA had wide open spaces to fly birds and catch wild prey.
After graduating High School Dennis and a friend picked up and drove to Alaska. They lived off the land, built a cabin, did some dogsledding, animal trapping and scaled some cliffs to get to falcon eyries and may have somehow come into possession of some eyasses (baby falcons).
He returned to Los Angeles a few years later to see his family and earn some money to go back to Alaska for good… then he met Rosalina Martinez (insert heart eyes) and all plans changed. Alaska had to wait 50 years for him to return. Dennis and Rosalina started a family and Dennis went to school to become a plumber, waking before sunrise to fly his birds or rushing home to fly before sunset. Around that time at the Grisco home, a call was received from a bird breeder looking for a falconer with his bird to work on a film, Dennis and his hawk went to work on set and he found his career. Dennis became an animal trainer for the motion picture industry. Dennis worked with many types of animals, reptiles, cats, wolves, cougars, alligators and mostly dogs but he never lost his love for birds of prey. He practiced falconry throughout his entire life. Ultimately retiring with Rosalina in Idaho on a large plot of land breeding falcons and raising pigeons to train his birds.

Dennis was a prankster, he loved to laugh and tell jokes. He had a way with animals and plants, it was like he could read them. His yard and kennels were beautifully manicured. At night if you looked out the back doors you would see him watering his trees or on the ride lawnmower mowing his yard with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other (he did quit smoking around age 40) He was a quiet man, he didn't seek attention but when he did speak, he knew what he was speaking of. If he didn't like you, you knew it. Mostly, he wasn't afraid to forge his own path and live his life his way.

Dennis's service will be held at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills on January 21, 2023 12:30 pm.
Reception following at Gordon Biersch Burbank 2:30-5:30 pm.