Grant Pasley

At Wheel & Deal, 1997

Grant Henry Pasley
14 Apr 1936 - 03 Jul 2016

Clubs & Associations

Obituary

Pasley, Grant
Grant Pasley died peacefully on July 3, 2016 in Roseville, California at the age of 80.

Grant is survived by his husband, James Johnson; ex-wife Dorothy Pasley; children Mark Pasley of Berkeley, CA, Chris Pasley of Winthrop, WA, Lori Pasley of Rancho Cordova, CA and Robert Pasley of Sacramento, CA; sibling Gilbert Pasley of Palm Springs; and grandchildren Brandon Pasley, Kady Pasley, and Grant Maciel.

Grant was born on April 14, 1936 in Butte, MT to Robert and Lela Pasley. He graduated from California State University Sacramento with a degree in Ichthyology. As a teenager, Grant began working at Lorraine's Aquarium at 20th and Capitol Ave in downtown Sacramento, which he eventually purchased from lifelong friend Lorraine Bailey and renamed Capitol Aquarium. Over the years, as Capitol Aquarium increased in popularity, it relocated and expanded several times, eventually settling at the corner of 29th and T Streets in a 10,000 square foot tropical fish emporium that featured over 500 aquariums of healthy freshwater and saltwater fish. Capitol Aquarium became a Sacramento landmark and tourist attraction over the years, known for selling tropical fish to customers throughout Northern California, hosting thousands of school field trips, and creating memories for many. Grant was proud of his exotic collection of aquatic creatures including Moby Dick, the huge osphronemus gourami that greeted customers, SMUD the electric eel, Godzilla the alligator, and Sherbet the red devil cichlid who "loved to be teased."

Grant was an accomplished artist, creating stained glass lamps and windows for his homes, and loved to fish from his houseboat on the Sacramento River. He traveled extensively seeing much of the world, always checking in on the local tropical fish scene. He was a generous individual with a giving heart, helping others in any way he could. He spent many years as an active member of the Sacramento Aquarium Society, even serving as president for several years.

A celebration of life is scheduled for Saturday, July 9 at 11:00 at Club Pheasant, 2525 Jefferson Blvd, West Sacramento, with a reception to follow at the restaurant.

All are welcome to attend and celebrate Grant's life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) at http://www.alzfdn.org^[1]