The La Gruas
Winifred Glover
Maurice La Grua
The La Grua Legacy
Board Of Directors
Maurice and Winifred were both born in Stonington and
attended the Borough School, but did
not officially meet until Maurie returned from Army service
in the Second World War.
Winifred Glover graduated from Connecticut
College for women in the late 1930’s, and
secured a position as an Executive Assistant at Atwood Machine Company in the
Borough. One
of her favorite responsibilities was checking in on the foundry, the
rectangular stone structure
located in the middle of the five acre plant, and now home to the La Grua
Center.
Maurice La Grua served his country as one of
the first soldiers to storm the beaches of
Normandy. Upon his return to Stonington, Maurie continued
the family tradition as a merchant
on Water Street. La Grua’s store opened in 1947. Before
long, Wynne was behind the counter
at La Grua’s, while Maurie began a career as a photographer.
They were married in 1964.
Though Maurie passed away in 2005, at age ninety, La Grua’s continues to
hold title as Water
Street’s oldest family-owned business.
The La Grua Legacy
The La Gruas lived and worked in Stonington Borough for most of the twentieth
century. They were recognized as vital participants in every aspect of life in
Stonington. Maurie was most comfortable behind his camera establishing a daily
practice of putting others in their best light. As a professional photographer
he chronicled the lives of local families and Stonington’s public school
students for generations. When he served as Town Tax Collector, he cleaned out
his desk every election day, even when running unopposed, to remind himself that
he served at the behest of the voters. For almost sixty years, Wynne maintained
a dependable, friendly presence at the store, welcoming everyone who stopped by,
whether to pass the time, or find the perfect gift.
La Grua Foundation
Board of Directors
Dorothy Papp
Wendy Bury
Jeff Callahan
Peter Castle
Sarah Janssens
Diana Leslie
Spike Lobdell
Henri Gourd
Joan Soons