The Rev. Dr. Robert Hamm Grindrod

The Rev. Dr. Robert Hamm Grindrod, age 63 passed away Friday, December 26, 2014 at Swedish American Hospital Belvidere, IL. He was born on May 18, 1951 in Hanover, PA. Son of the late James and Nancy (Hamm) Grindrod.

He became an Episcopal priest December 14, 1977 in the Diocese of Missouri. He was serving as Interim Priest at Holy Trinity Church in Belvidere. He previously pastored St. Thomas Episcopal Church for the Deaf in St. Louis Missouri, Central, PA Deaf Missions; Hanover, Waynesboro, Williamsport, York, and St. Ann's Church for the Deaf, NY, NY.

His advocacy in the Deaf Community included sign language interpreter for John Hersey High School, District 214, Arlington Heights, Eden Theological and Concordia Lutheran Seminaries, St. Louis and Washington Universities in Missouri, St. Louis Community College at Florissant, Valley, Meramec, and Forest Park.

Interpreter for agencies inclusive of Deaf-Interlink, Deaf Services, and Chicago Hearing Society. He freelanced interpreted for First Lady, Betty Ford; Former President, George H. W. Bush; Former, Ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young; Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu; and Professor of Economics at Harvard University, John Kenneth Gailbraight.

He has served as the Executive Director of the Chicago Area Interpreter Referral Services; Instructor for the Interpreters Training Program at William Woods College, St. Louis Community College, Eden Theological Seminary, and St. Louis University College of Medicine.

His passion inspired him to co-sponsor Junior National Association of the Deaf; establish, coach and sponsor prize winning Deaf Academic Bowl Team; establish Interpreters Screening and Assessment System in Illinois (ISAS); and lead the grassroots movement resulting in the passage of legislation which established the Illinois Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

He attended Northern Illinois University, William Rainey Harper College, Eden Theological Seminary, The General Theological Seminary, Eastern Nazarene College and Lehigh University. He was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Illinois Education Association, National Education Association, and National Association for the Advancement of Color People (NAACP).

His past activities include President of the St. Louis Chapter of Registry for the Deaf, President of the Episcopal Conference of the Deaf, Member of the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Association, Chair, Search Committee for the Director of the IDHHC. He received numerous awards and recognitions; completed many certifications and licensures.

He was a great man who continued to serve the Deaf community providing interpreting services through the Center for Sight & Hearing in Rockford, IL. He was willing to travel far and wide to provide quality legal interpreting services for the Deaf community.

He was affectionately known by many names, but Father Bob and Doctor Bob were the all-time favorite names for the young and young adults he mentored and coached. He was a noted historian and an extreme enthusiast of the all things Civil War. He was a tenacious reader with over two thousand books in his collection on various topics such as Civil War, President Lincoln, Civil Rights, Social Justice and Theology and many more. Weekly, he would complete reading five different books, journals, and magazines. He believe that young people should know that reading is fun. Shopping for more books and guitars were his favorite pastime.

He is survived by his Fiancé The Rev. Karen A. King, daughters, Amy (Alfredo) Grindrod-Sierra and Marcy Grindrod, son, Liam McNamara, beloved aunt, Julia Ann Hamm.

There will be a Requiem Mass at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, January 5, 2014 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church 217 East Hurlbut, Belvidere, IL. His ashes will be interned in Evergreen Cemetery in Gettysburg, PA at a date to be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in the name of Robert Hamm Grindrod to continue to support the amazing children and family ministry he started.