Ensign’s former military assistant, D’Arcy Grisier, dies in Baltimore

WASHINGTON -- D'Arcy Grisier, a former military legislative assistant for Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., died Friday at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

Grisier, 52, died after being hospitalized last month for a fever contracted because of a weakened immune system.

Prior to his illness, Grisier had received a kidney transplant and overcome a bout with cancer, according to Ensign spokesman Tory Mazzola.

Grisier joined Ensign's staff in 2003 and served as the senator's aide on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee.

Last month, the Bush administration appointed Grisier to be deputy undersecretary of defense for budget and appropriations affairs. Due to his illness, Grisier was not able to begin work in that post.

Grisier was a retired colonel in the Marine Corps, having served from 1977 to 2003.

"Colonel D was truly a great American," Ensign said in a statement.

"A husband, father and Marine, D served on my staff for five years and touched the lives of so many Nevadans through his work," Ensign said. "In the face of incredible adversity, D always kept a positive outlook."

A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Grisier earned a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and another master's in national security from the National War College in Washington, D.C.

Grisier is survived by his wife, Roberta; a daughter, D'Arcy; and two sons, Kelly and Sean.

A funeral is being scheduled at Arlington National Cemetery.