Paul Grobey

SPRINGFIELD -- Paul André Grobey, longtime resident of Springfield, died in the early afternoon on Friday, June 17, 2005, after a long illness.

He died with great dignity, at peace, surrounded by loved ones in the quiet comfort of his home.

Mr. Grobey was an extraordinary person who lived a remarkable life. He was a devoted husband, and a wonderful teacher. He taught much about living, he taught grace and courage when he surrendered to his own illness.

He was born Jan. 12, 1910, in the small village of Lacnax-De Fond, Switzerland. He grew up with three sisters and to each he was a caring and loving brother.

Later on the family moved to larger quarters, to a house in Berne. His interest in design engineering (as well as architecture) lead him to trade school and two years of education. He was discovered by Bryant Grinder and came to America to work for Bryant during the early 1930s. He returned to Switzerland for military duty and at that time met and wooed Margrit Steffon.

Apart from love, they shared a passion for skiing. She was the more skilled and faster of the two. He always liked a good challenge. Shortly after their marriage, the couple traded the Alps for the Green Mountains. They moved to Springfield permanently where he was promoted chief engineer at Bryant, and later, head of management for the company.

Mr. Grobey retired in 1969, eager to pursue his avid interest in gardening. Everything he planted, he planted with tender hands, keen eyes and anticipation. He planted vegetables, pear trees, peach trees, multiple blueberry bushes and flowering bushes.

He had a natural gift for creating. Unhappy with the rototiller he used for his vegetable garden, he designed a new one, the infamous “yellow bird.” The two birches he planted, tiny saplings in 1953, possibly loom higher than any other birch in Vermont.

He was in awe of God's creation and paid close attention to each and every detail of nature's perfection. He loved God with all his heart. He was not a “religious” man, yet his knowledge of the Bible was mind-boggling, its pages worn thin from years of reading, and carefully color-coded throughout.

His intent to share this knowledge was intense and relentless. Sharing the truths of the prophets, his uttermost desire. He dismissed the concept of evolution as nonsense and had his own simple demonstration to back up this belief.

Mr. Grobey loved Vermont, its mountains, the woods and fields. He took up watercolors and oil painting, creating works of great depth and beauty. Several hang in the house, but dozens of his paintings, not framed, are yet to be seen, tucked away in a cardboard box.

He was modest about his work. Creation was perfect, and nobody could capture the real thing, no matter how skilled the artist. He built fences, now weathered, various birdhouses, a large, spring-fed pond, a summer haven, a watering hole for thirsty deer and other woodland creatures.

He continued to design. After the death of his wife in 1998, his entrepreneur spirit lead him to the Woodstock Soapstone Stove Co. in West Lebanon, N.H.

His association with the company and the people within brought welcomed relief from rural isolation. His design for a “baby” model of the Woodstock's classic stove helped boost sales and lift the company out of an unproductive year into a busy and fruitful one.

He met Elizabeth Shepard, originally from Saxtons River, the daughter of the late John and Kathryn Shepard. They were married early May 2003 in a simple civil ceremony in Springfield.

He is survived by a sister, Eva Marie Conod-Grobey of Zurich, and a sister, Sylvia Feldhoff of Dechdendorf, Germany; 14 nieces and nephews; 10 great-nieces and great-nephews; his wife, Elizabeth; two stepchildren, Azora Nichols of Harvard, Mass., and Daniel Shepard of Springfield.

Mr. Grobey was also predeceased by sister, Gertrude.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association of Springfield.

A small memorial service will be held at the Grobey home, date not established, later in the summer.u