Elmer F. Bright, 80, Poly teacher, coachElmer F. Bright, a...

Elmer F. Bright, 80, Poly teacher, coach

Elmer F. Bright, a former teacher and wrestling and football coach at Polytechnic Institute, died March 30 of congestive heart failure at Columbia Doctor's Hospital in Sarasota, Fla. He was 80.

Mr. Bright, who had homes in Sarasota and Timonium, was a teacher for 34 years, spending 22 years at Poly.

He began his career in 1948 at Southern High School, where he taught and coached football and wrestling.

In 1955, he joined the faculty of Poly, where he taught mechanical drawing and coached football and wrestling. He retired in 1977.

The East Baltimore native was a 1937 graduate of Poly and attended the University of Maryland in College Park on a football scholarship. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1947.

During World War II, as an Army second lieutenant he commanded a rifle company in the 56th Armored Infantry Battalion in Europe. His unit was the first in the 3rd Army to reach the Rhine River.

After being discharged at the end of the war, Mr. Bright joined the Maryland National Guard and was a member of the 175th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Division, serving in various posts -- XTC tank commander, infantry battalion commander and brigade commander -- until 1970.

After retiring from the National Guard as a brigadier general, he was appointed brevet brigadier general and served as honorary colonel of the historic 175th Regiment, which dates to 1774.

He was a member of the Retired Officers Association, the 29th Division Association, the 175th Infantry Association and the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute Alumni Association.

Services were held April 6.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, the former Doris Compton; a sister, Elizabeth L. Catterton of Ellicott City; and many nieces and nephews.

Ann W. Grieves, 63, administrative assistant

Ann W. Grieves, a retired Loyola College administrative assistant and a volunteer, died of cancer Saturday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. She was 63 and lived in Ruxton.

Mrs. Grieves retired in 1989 from the North Baltimore college, where she had worked in the dean's office since 1977.

For many years, she was a volunteer at GBMC and the Union Memorial Foundation's "Rites of Spring." She was also an active member of the Colonial Dames of America.

The former Ann Watts was born in Homeland and graduated from St. Timothy's School in Stevenson in 1951.

Her marriage ended in divorce.

She was a communicant of the Roman Catholic Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Smith and Greely avenues in Mount Washington, where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

She is survived by two sons, James R. Grieves of Baltimore and Richard B. Grieves of Easton; a daughter, Katherine Grieves Perkins of Warren, N.H.; two brothers, Sewell S. Watts III and Richard B. Watts, both of Baltimore; a stepbrother, Richard Jackson of Baltimore; a stepsister, Roberta J. Farr of Baltimore; six grandchildren; and longtime friend, Joseph S. Keelty of Baltimore.

John L. Palmere, 82, Baltimore police sergeant

John L. Palmere, a retired Baltimore police sergeant who enjoyed designing and making rugs, died Saturday of cancer at Stella Maris Hospice. He was 82 and lived in the Loch Raven section of Baltimore County.

Mr. Palmere began his career as a patrolman in 1941 and retired as a sergeant in the Northeastern District in 1971.

He then worked in the coupon and bond department at Mercantile Bank & Trust Co. in Baltimore until 1976.

He enjoyed needlepoint and designed intricately patterned Persian latch hook rugs.

The Hamilton native was a communicant of Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 8501 Loch Raven Blvd., where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, the former Margaret Maltese; two daughters, Rita Palmere and Joan Magness, both of Towson; two brothers, Nicholas Palmere and Orlando Palmere; two sisters, Lucy Pompa and Fanny Siminski, all of Baltimore; and two grandchildren.

Pub Date: 4/14/98