Robert M. "Bob" Grom

Robert "Bob" M. Grom, 73, of The Villages, FL, on February 28, 2025. Born on August 27, 1951, in Pittsburgh, PA, to the late Robert G. and Ann (Kendrick) Grom. Beloved husband of 48 years to Carol A. (Zeitler) Grom; proud and loving father of Adam (Myrna Snider) and Jessica (Leo Rose IV) Grom. He is survived by his sister, Marianne Grom; and her children, Tyler and Sydney Korvick. He was a Rotary host father to Annika Richter; and lifelong friend to Wayne and Carol Winters ("brother from another mother, and sister from another mister"). Bob was a graduate of Edinboro University. He worked in the non-profit sector for his entire career, fundraising and developing programs for underserved communities and populations. He first worked as a Development Consultant and then Vice President of Development, at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital Foundation. At West Penn, his most notable accomplishments included developing The James I. McGuire Antiquity Center and a Burn Care and Prevention Partnership. Next, he became the Vice President of Development at Braddock Medical Center and Executive Director of Heritage Health Foundation. In this dual role, he transitioned the foundation into a freestanding, community-based, charitable foundation. He created community health advisory boards and assessments and collaborated to create community-based medical practices, health outreach offices, preventive health programs, and services for pregnant woman with substance use issues. He went on to become the President and Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Health Foundation, where he worked for approximately 15 years, developing innovative programs in health and human services, education, community and economic development, transportation, and affordable housing for underserved, economically distressed, areas in southwestern Pennsylvania. He created the 4 Kids Early Learning Network (high-quality education and support services for at-risk children) and WorkLink Community Van Service (a free transportation service for low-income riders seeking access to work, job training, and medical services), which still exist today, and served as a consultant to the Early Childhood Partnership at the University of Pittsburgh. After his children left the nest, Bob and his wife relocated to Arlington, VA, where he worked as the Deputy Director and Chief Development Officer at DC Cancer Consortium and created a comprehensive fundraising program to financially support projects that aimed to reduce cancer incidence and mortality. He later became the Vice President of External Affairs at Melwood and worked on programming, fund development, marketing, and advocacy efforts to support the organization's mission of improving the lives of individuals with disabilities through providing job training and employment and veteran rehabilitation. Across his career, he secured millions of dollars in grant money for non-profit organizations aimed at increasing access to services and decreasing health disparities. After retirement, Bob and his wife moved to The Villages, FL. Throughout his retirement, he volunteered as a consultant, social media manager, and marketing designer and served as a Chairman on the Board of Directors for Warfighter ADVANCE, an organization that conducts weeklong, no-cost, programs for warfighters who struggle with reintegration and coping with operational traumas. He was a skilled, award winning, photographer, as well as a prolific writer who authored several books, including "Images of America: Braddock, Allegheny County," "Physician-Soldiers at the Forks: The Impact of the Military on Medical Care in Pittsburgh," and "Wid Scalpel and Shillaleh: The Life of William Hudson Daly." Following his wishes, no public services will be held. Family requests donations be made in Bob's memory to Warfighter ADVANCE: https://www.warfighteradvance.org/donate/ or send to Warfighter Advance, Inc., PO Box 222, Patuxent River, MD 20670.