F. Herbert Gruendel

On December 17, 2024, an eagle landed at the Branford home of retired CT Appellate Court Judge F. Herbert Gruendel. It circled the house twice, flew up and down the street, and at 2:12 in the afternoon it took him under its majestic wings and returned to the sky. On December 22nd at just about noon, the eagle came again to the house and lifted his soul and spirit from our sorrow to finish his journey.

Learning of his passing, a younger man whom he had helped wrote, "We all live a hundred lives in our time together as human beings. In one of my earliest lives, I needed a lifeline, and that was Herb. In perfect harmony, the mind of an attorney and the heart of a friend saved my life."

Judge "Herb" Gruendel lived a fully engaged life as a husband and father, teacher, principal, lawyer, and proud member of the CT Appellate Court. Deeply committed to family law, he served as Chief Administrative Judge for the family division of the CT Superior Court. in 2005, he was appointed to the Appellate Court where he served with joy and distinction until his mandatory retirement at the age of seventy.

Forever a learner, he made a pilgrimage to the Alhambra in Granada, Spain upon his retirement, to stand at the intersection of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. While he held several graduate degrees, his most cherished was a certificate in theology from the Hartford Seminary where he studied middle eastern religions.

He was forever committed to civil discourse and civic engagement. Judge Gruendel believed deeply that, in our turbulent times, we need many more young people who are able to disagree, argue their position, and resolve without anger and hate. To contribute to the goal of building - among young people - the values and skills necessary to engage in full civic stewardship, he asked that his friends and colleagues make a small online donation to the CT Bar Association Gruendel Mock Trial Fund.

Rather than at a memorial service, he asked that we come together in smaller groups to share stories and lift a glass in remembrance. Planning for these is now underway. To join in one of these celebrations of life, please email to Janice Gruendel at - jmgruendel@yahoo.com

Judge Gruendel is survived by a vibrant family. His three sons - David (Connecticut), Darren (Virginia) and Stephen (North Carolina) - work as a teacher, businessman, and attorney, respectively. Their wives - Elizabeth, Yolanda, and Amy - are similarly amazing, a bilingual speech therapist and two attorneys. Three of his grandchildren have completed college, two more are currently enrolled, and the youngest is a high school sophomore.

His wife of forever, Janice, who also retired from state service, now works to advance the vision that all of the state's youngest children experience on-target development, live healthy lives and flourish.

Throughout his life on the Appellate Court, Judge Gruendel had a deep and abiding relationship with his beloved clerks. His final advice to them would be, "You have a special obligation to carry the law preciously in your mind and your heart." And to the rest of us, he would likely add, "Keep your eyes upward, for who knows where eagles soar."

In lieu of flowers please consider the donation to the CT Bar Association Gruendel Mock Trial Fund.