Neighbor Spotlight: Wexford man's family featured in film chronicling sandwich generation of caregivers

Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would like to nominate someone as a Neighbor Spotlight, see northjournal.com, select the “Post Story” button in the upper right corner and complete the form to publish your nomination. Questions? Email Neighborhood News Network editor Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.

Rob Grier Jr. of Wexford wasn’t interested in drawing attention to himself when he agreed to take part in the new documentary film “Sky Blossom: Diaries of the Next Greatest Generation.”

But the idea of using his story to help draw attention to the nation’s 24.5 million members of the sandwich generation of people taking care of elderly parents while also raising a child was intriguing to the 55-year-old cyber securitycybersecurityexpert.

Directed by award-winning journalist Richard Lui, the film is a snapshot into the lives of five young families from Latino, Black, Asian, Native and white American communities who are caring for veterans with disabilities.

Grier cares for his father, Robert “Bobby” Grier, 88, a veteran of the Air Force, where he served as a missile and radar supervisor.

Rob Grier got involved in the film project through its association with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which advocates for military caregivers.

The elder Grier is a former University of Pittsburgh football star who broke the color barrier when he became the first Black player to appear in a collegiate Sugar Bowl game – in 1956 when Pitt played against Georgia Tech in New Orleans.

“The other players told the athletic director, ‘if I don’t go (to the game) then they won’t go,” Bobby Grier said in the film. “That made me feel great, that my team was behind me 100%. You learn through sports how to work as a team and then you work as a team in the family.”

Bobby Grier survived cancer in 2017 and contends with multiple physical ailments that require using a motorized wheelchair most of the time and help with activities.

Those jobs fall on Bobby Grier’s son and his 17-year-old granddaughter, Camille, 17, who is involved with her grandfather’s care even though she lives with her mother.

“He does everything for me,” Bobby Grier said. “He feeds me, makes sure I take all the medicines at the right time. He’s a great son. He cares about me.”

Rob Grier’s role as a caregiver for his parents began a decade ago when his mother, who died in 2016, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

“I never expected to be a full-time caregiver to my mother and father while I tried to juggle work, a new family and a young child,” he said. “It was a lot being thrown on my shoulders at once.”

Despite the challenges, Rob Grier said caring for his parents is engrained in his spirit.

“Being part of the sandwich generation is a real thing. But I feel honored to be able to take care of mother and father,” he said, adding that personally caring for aging family members is a tradition in his family. “If I didn’t have the ability to do it, I would feel really guilty.”

Rob Grier acknowledges that even though his role as a caregiver can sometimes put a strain on relationships with family members, like it did with his ex-wife and sometimes happens with with his daughter, it also serves as a valuable life lesson.

“Camille is very busy. She’s a teenager and she has friends, parties and activities to go to,” Rob Grier said. “I understand that her life is busy and that I can’t always spend the time with her that I want to. But I really appreciate her taking the time to help with dad. It’s important for her to see the natural progression of what families have to go through.”

Camille Grier said the devotion her father exhibits is inspiring.

“My dad is always there to make sure that everything is going well, that my grandfather is doing fine,” she said. “He works a lot harder than it seems. Family is number one for him. He doesn’t put anything else before that.”

The amount of time and energy Rob Grier had to put into juggling work and family life was also a wake-up call when the former high school and college athlete went from buff to struggling to climb stairs.

“I realized that if I wanted to be a round for my dad and my daughter, then I needed to find ways to take better care of myself,” he said. “So I started with baby steps to get myself back in shape.”

The film’s executive producer, TV personality Montel Williams, believes the film can serve as a vehicle for uniting people.

“The communities represented in this invigorating film are from different regions, ages, ethnicities, military branches and backgrounds,” he said in a statement. “It’s a much needed message in today’s environment that we are all different, but also very similar in amazing ways that make America stronger, not weaker.”

The film’s name refers to the phrase “here come the sky blossoms,” which is used by troops when they are receiving aid from paratroopers.

The film received a Christopher Award for its work amplifying messages of diversity and caregiving. It also qualified for the 2020 Academy Awards.

Rob Grier said people who serve as caregivers will come away from the film with an appreciation that they are not alone. And he hopes those who are unaware of what caregivers face will gain better understanding of the challenges.

“One of the things I hope people get out of this film is that we need to begin having conversations about caregiving and how it can affect families,” he said. “There are millions of people in this country serving as caregivers, but there’s not enough people, families and businesses talking about it.”

“Sky Blossom” made its nationwide theatrical debut May 26. It is available on DVD and is scheduled to begin streaming July 1 on Peacock.