Jacob Edward "Red" Gramlich

Gramlich, Jacob Edward "Red"
Pittsford: Nov. 17, 2007. Edward "Red" Gramlich, died peacefully at home, at the age of 94. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Harriet W. and by three children, Robin Gordon, Jack (Sharon) and Fred (Martha). His eldest son, Ned (Ruth), predeceased him in September 2007. Gramlich is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Red's life was the embodiment of the Boy Scout charge, "Do a good turn daily", earning his Eagle and scouting's highest Silver Beaver award. Accomplished in many fields, his outstanding traits were kindness and a concern for the welfare of others. After 30 years as an engineer at Eastman Kodak, where he was superintendent of the Engineering, Construction, Maintenance and Utility Department, Red created a second career in retirement at Neighborhood Housing Services where he was honored in 1995, and again in 2005. In 1999, his friend and Mayor William Johnson presented Gramlich with the Unsung Heroes Award and in 2005 awarded him the Mayor's Renaissance Award, proclaiming a "Red Gramlich Day" in recognition of his years of community service.
Gramlich's engineering career and interest in international relations led to his appointment in 1962 by President John Kennedy as the US AID Director in Khartoum, Sudan, where he served for 2 years. He and his wife learned Arabic, made lifelong Sudanese friends, and Harriet was involved in the formation of the Afhad School for Girls.
Gramlich was born in Syracuse, where he went to college and engineering school. A gifted athlete, he was captain of the crew and played right guard on the football team. In 1998, Syracuse University awarded Gramlich the Letterman of Distinction.
Gramlich was an elder at Third Presbyterian Church, served as president of the Pittsford School Board and was honored for his service with Community Partners for Youth and participated in numerous other community groups serving the environment, welfare of children and inner city problems.
Gramlich was a naturalist who loved golf, fishing, birding and made maple syrup in the woods behind their Pittsford home, where hundreds of school children, church groups, scouts and neighbors were introduced to this process. Other specialties were making fudge and tending a small orchard of apple trees, then distributing his syrup, fudge and apples to friends and acquaintances. In his later years it was bridge and Scrabble, which he and his wife played daily.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Dec. 1 at 3:00 PM at Third Presbyterian Church. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to NeighborWorks (Neighborhood Housing Services) or Third Presbyterian Church. Online Condolences welcomed at:

www.CrawfordFuneralHome.com