DAVID PAUL GRUBER SR.

1941 - 2018

GRUBER, David Paul Sr. age 76, died on Tuesday, May 29 as a result of complications from Alzheimer's Disease at HarborChase, a Memory Care community in Vero Beach, Florida. He was born December 1, 1941 in Akron, Ohio, to Mary Isabel Gruber (Stumpf) and Dr. Elbert E. Gruber. David (or Dave as many knew him) was an adventurous soul who wanted to be a scientist like his father. He excelled in math and science. He loved reading adventure, espionage and science fiction stories. As a youth, he learned to play trumpet and rescued every animal (frog, snake, bird, rabbit) in his neighborhood that needed help. In Ninth Grade he met Joann Marie Scuderi (sister of his best friend, Joe) and was with her ever since. He married her on September 2, 1967 in Akron, Ohio. At the time of his passing, they were wed nearly 51 years, and have known each other for 63 years. David and Joann's two sons, Xaque David Gruber Jr. and Robert (Terri) Gruber moved to Florida to help David in his final years. Robert, and his wife Terri, are parents of David's two grandsons, Tristan (8) and Alexander (3). David was the second oldest of four siblings: Tom (Kathie) Gruber, Christine Bixon, and Carolyn (Larry) Singer. David is survived by three nephews and two nieces on the Gruber side: Leo Gruber, Beth (Patrick) Brown, Katie (Scott) King, Michael (Abby) Bixon, and Shane Singer. In 1959, David graduated Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron. He pursued his dream of a career in science with studies at Notre Dame University, Stanford University, and Ohio State University where he received his degree in Chemistry in 1964. He completed his education in Physics for his PhD at The University of Akron. His professional career began as a chemist at General Tire & Rubber Company in Akron. In 1978 David and his family moved to Scotia, N.Y. when he began as Technical Director at the Norton Company in Watervliet, N.Y. In 1987, David was promoted to the role of Vice President of Norton Company's Coated Abrasive Division at their main headquarters in Worcester, Massachusetts. This prompted a move to Sudbury, MA for David and his family. In the early 1990s, he was hired as C.E.O. of The Wyman Gordon Company where he worked until his retirement in 2009. After his retirement, he served on the Board of Directors of State Street Bank in Boston, Cambridge Semantics, Boston College, and Worcester Polytech Institute. A believer in the importance of new businesses, he took an active role in the development of many New England start up companies in the biomedical, technology and construction fields. He had made several patents. For David, scientific and financial endeavors were as much a passionate hobby as they were a business. In 2000 he was ranked at #1 in The Boston Globe's Who's Who for Massachusetts Business leaders. David was involved with the Notre Dame Club serving as President of the Akron chapter in the 1970s and as member of the Vero Beach chapter since moving to Florida in 2003. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He loved boating, fishing and swimming at his home on Sebago Lake, Maine. He enjoyed mountain climbing, golf, reading, movies and theatre, classical music, pop music of the 1940s and 50s, rooting for Notre Dame and New England Patriots football, and meticulously caring for his houses and yards, which never had a single blade of grass out of place. Calling hours at Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach will be this Friday, June 8 from 5pm to 7pm. The Memorial Service will be at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach on Saturday, June 9 at 10am. Donations can be made in David Gruber's memory to The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation: https://www.alzinfo.org/donate/donation_form/ An online guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com Strunk Funeral Home 772-562-2325

View the online memorial for David Paul Sr. GRUBER