It is with great sadness, that we mourn the passing of Cantor Emeritus Jonathan Neil Grant, of Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach. Cantor Grant died at age 66 from complications of ALS. He was at home, surrounded by loving family members.
Condolences go out to his wife, Sharyn Grant, siblings Ellen Lamonoff and Adam Grant, sister-in-law Sue Thoensen and brother-in-law Adam Grossman, their respective families, including nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Cantor Grant served the Temple Bat Yahm community since 1994. He was a teacher, spiritual leader and his beautiful rich baritone voice was a source of inspiration for generations of children and adults alike. Over his thirty year tenure as Cantor, he visited Heritage Pointe numerous times to perform during numerous holidays and festivals. Cantor Grant and his wife Sharyn, were also dedicated members of the Heritage Pointe Diamond Donor Society.
Jonathan was the son of Marvin and Rita Grant, and was born and raised in the New York area. He was an honor student in high school, where he began his musical journey in the high school chorus. While his initial career choice was to be a veterinarian, he met a music and voice teacher in college who changed his focus to become a professional singer.
In the mid-1980s, Jonathan began voice training at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara with Martial Singher, world-renowned for his work with many great operatic voices. It was under Singher’s tutelage that Jonathan enhanced his voice and perfected his impeccable diction and tone.
Jonathan performed for opera companies around the United States and internationally, and as he developed his voice, he started his cantorial career at Wilshire Blvd Temple in Los Angeles as their Cantorial Soloist.
In 1990, Jonathan applied to and was accepted into Hebrew Union College, School of Sacred Music. As a part of his Cantorial studies, he spent almost two years in Israel and was the student cantor at Brooklyn Heights Synagogue. In 1994, he received his Masters of Sacred Music from HUC and was ordained as a Cantor.
He was blessed to become the Cantor at Temple Bat Yahm, where he served for over 30 years. His relationships with his rabbinic partners, his peers, and his congregation were exemplified by professionalism, friendship, and a deep sense of connection to each other. He was a mentor and teacher, guiding students in their Jewish studies and officiating over b’nai mitzvah and family events, both joyful and sorrowful.
In the words of our tradition, may G-d comfort Cantor Grant’s family among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Zichrono livracha, may his memory be a blessing.
Donations in his name may be made to Temple Bat Yahm, Hebrew Union College, the ALS Association, or a charity of your choice.