▁New ▁Democratic ▁Party . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁he ▁married ▁Helen ▁Sch lang er . ▁They ▁had ▁three ▁children : ▁A aron ▁David ▁( 1 9 7 7 ), ▁Daniel ▁Robert ▁( 1 9 7 9 ) ▁and ▁Laura ▁Sim one ▁( 1 9 8 3 ). ▁He ▁died ▁of ▁cancer ▁on ▁August ▁ 9 , ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁following ▁a ▁four - year ▁ill ness . ▁ ▁Polit ics ▁Grande ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Ontario ▁legisl ature ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁provincial ▁election , ▁and ▁re - elect ed ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 , ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁and ▁ 1 9 8 5 . ▁ ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁N DP ▁education ▁critic ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁and ▁was ▁re ass igned ▁as ▁critic ▁for ▁citizens hip , ▁culture ▁and ▁special ▁issues ▁of ▁education ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 3 . ▁ ▁Grande ▁supported ▁Bob ▁R ae ' s ▁successful ▁campaign ▁for ▁the ▁N DP ▁leadership ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 2 , ▁and ▁was ▁subsequently ▁asked ▁to ▁rel in qu ish ▁his ▁seat ▁to ▁allow ▁R ae ▁to ▁run ▁for ▁a ▁position ▁in ▁the ▁legisl ature . ▁ ▁He ▁decl ined , ▁arg uing ▁that ▁the ▁local ▁Italian ▁community ▁in ▁his ▁r iding ▁would ▁be ▁ups et ▁if ▁he ▁were ▁forced ▁to ▁res ign ▁in ▁favour ▁of ▁a ▁non - Ital ian . ▁ ▁Grande ▁was ▁a ▁strong ▁advoc ate ▁for ▁mult icult