Robert Freeman "Bob" Grose

1924 - 2014

AMHERST - Robert Freeman Grose of Amherst, passed away Sunday, May 11, 2014, following a stroke, with his loving family gathered around him.

A true gentle man, he lived a very full life of 89 years, sharing his thoughtfulness, cheerfulness and appreciation with so many he encountered. In spite of the dementia that robbed him of his intellectual strengths in his later years, he had the grace to brighten others' days, no more so than the smile of recognition and love every time he saw "his Lady", his loving wife of 66 years, Ann Huntington Grose.

Born July 12, 1924, to Arthur and Alice Grose, Bob grew up in Milton. He graduated from Yale University where he received an accelerated bachelor's degree before serving as a deck officer and Lt. JG on the U.S.S. Purdy in the Pacific. After returning from the war, Bob earned his doctorate in psychology at Yale and he and his wife moved to Amherst in 1950.

Bob worked for Amherst College for 42 years, as a professor of psychology and as its first Registrar, a position he held for many years. He served generously in many capacities over decades with the town of Amherst, and he and Ann received the Millicent Kaufman Award for distinguished service in 1988. Bob joined the First Congregational Church of Amherst in 1953, and served in many capacities there. He was one of the first members of the board of the Pioneer Valley Living Care Center, serving for 11 years in the development of what would become Applewood, the special community where he and Ann have lived since 2007.

A man of intellectual curiosity, Bob participated in the Learning in Retirement program from its beginnings. He and Ann enjoyed traveling and began their adventures by going around the world in 1963 with their four young children and living in the Philippines for a year where Bob consulted to Silliman University. They continued their love of travel in their later years while also spending good times with family and friends on Cape Cod, in their Chatham home.

He has left a profound impact on his four children, Peter Grose and his wife Ruth Nye of Coventry, Conn., Cathie Carrier and her husband Philip of Lynchburg, Va., Peggy Grose of Manchester, N.H., and Amy Grose and her partner Cherry Bennett of North Andover, seven grandchildren, Timothy and Emily Grose, Brian, David and Chris Carrier, Rebecca Lovenheim and Khymi Woo and three great-grandchildren, Amarrah Woo and Julia and Natalie Lovenheim.

He is survived by his sister Judy Alden and her husband Bill Alden and his brother Donald Grose, as well as by Ann's siblings, their spouses and many nieces and nephews whom Bob loved deeply. Bob is also remembered by the wide circle of friends who greatly enriched his life.

We can only hope to echo the smiles, appreciation and sense of wonder Bob frequently expressed to all. His family expresses special thanks to the wonderful staff of the Holyoke Soldiers Home, where Bob spent the last four months of his life in comfort and dignity.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Bob Grose will be held Saturday, June 14, at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Amherst, UCC, 165 Main St., Amherst, to be followed by a reception.

Memorial gifts may be made to the First Congregational Church of Amherst, or in support of the Orchard Arboretum at Applewood (donations to the latter may be made to the Town of Amherst Conservation Commission with appropriate notation).

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