Lee Gropper

Lee Gropper 79, Lee Gropper passed away November 5th at a Pasadena, California assisted living home where he had resided for the past five years. The cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest. He was born in New York City April 10, 1932, the son of artist William Gropper and his second wife, Sophie. After graduating from Colby College with a degree in Physics, he served in the army, and then began a career as an engineer at Beckman Instruments (now Beckman Coulter) in Silicon Valley. There he helped innovate the commercial centrifuge- he's credited with more than a half a dozen patents. He raised two sons with Eleanor Buckwalter. Their marriage lasted more than 25 years but ended shortly after he suffered a head injury, falling off a bicycle on July 4, 1984. Robbed of his ability to read, write or speak intelligibly, the last 27 years of his life were understandably difficult. Lee Gropper was laid to rest with military honors at Riverside National Cemetery November 9th. He's survived by his brother, Gene of Rosemead, California; his son, Craig; daughter-in-law, Michelle; and grandchildren, Christian, Theresa and Joanna of La Canada Flintridge, California.