Maxim Gricevich ("Max") died November 16th, 2021.  Born February 26th, 1943 in Carlinville, IL to Andrew N. and Rowena (Crorkin) Gricevich, he was preceded in death by both parents and his sister Andrea.  He married Anne Hermansen in 1969.

Max's life had two major themes: music and the environment.  He began his musical pursuits in third grade on the baritone horn, and played baritone and trombone in high school, college, the U.S. Army, and many municipal bands.  From the 1950s, Max played guitar.  He sang wonderfully—a daily joy for him and those around him.

After earning his M.S. in Biology in 1973, Max pursued a career in environmental science until his retirement in 2017.  His work encompassed biology of wetlands, environmental impacts, and groundwater, soil, air, and surface water contamination, as well as remediation of Superfund sites, ammunition plants, and radioactive waste sites.  This work contributed to regional and national environmental policies.

Max wrote the state grant proposal that secured funding for the initial infrastructure of Edwardsville's Watershed Nature Center.  As a member of the Center's board of directors for sixteen years, he was substantially involved in its development.  He personally collected and, with his family, sowed the seeds of many native plants that visitors to the revitalized watershed enjoy today.

Max loved fishing, Johnny Cash, and the Chicago Bears.  He was an avid gardener.  For him gardening was a year-round activity.  He enjoyed laughing, joking, and swapping stories with friends.  He and Anne were lifelong supporters of progressive and environmental causes.

Max is survived by his wife Anne, son Andrew (Nora), daughter Katharine (John), and grandson Miksa.  He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by his sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Play It Forward Musical Foundation (playitforwardstl.org) or the Nature Institute (thenatureinstitute.org).

A visitation will be held at Barry Wilson Funeral Home in Maryville, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, November 26th, with a short ceremony to follow.   The family is planning a Celebration of Life in early spring.