Robert Grossman, LTC, Armor, US Army Retired, born in Wellsville NY
LTC Robert (Bob) Grossman died in Raleigh, NC on January 27, 2025. He was born in Wellsville, NY the son of the late Wesley Leroy (Tom) and Dorothy Taft Grossman on August 30, 1938. Bob was the second of four children.
After graduation from Andover Central School, Bob attended Alfred University from which he received a BS degree in Ceramic Engineering. Later in his career, Bob also received a Master degree in library science from Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio.
Shortly after graduation from Alfred University, Bob was commissioned into the US Army as a second lieutenant, Armor and was ordered to Ft Knox, KY. After Ft. Knox, Bob served as instructor in ROTC at Georgia Tech. Then with the 6th Armored Cavalry as the last Regimental Adjutant, and finally the 11th Armored Cavalry in Vietnam and Executive Officer of 1st Squadron. He served a 2-year tour in Korea. Afterwards he served 8 years at the Army Military Personnel Center office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters, and Department of the Army Washington, DC.
Along Bob’s military career, he graduated from the Armor Advance course and the US Army Command and General Staff College Fort Leaven Worth, Kansas. Bob also attended the Defense Language Institute, Monterey, CA to study the Vietnamese language, and the US Army Special Warfare School prior to his first of two tours in Vietnam.
During the course of his career, Bob was awarded the Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Stars, the Air medal, 2 Meritorious Service Ribbons, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, 2 Army Commendation medals, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Army General Staff Bandage, and awards from the Republics of Vietnam and Korea. He was a life member of The Blackhorse Association and the 11th Armored Cavalry Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia.
After retiring from the Army, Bob joined United Services Life Insurance Company, Washington, DC. He served as Assistant Vice President. He quickly rose to Vice President for Marketing responsible for the company’s life insurance, and production in their US and overseas offices. Bob did not have any more full time employment after leaving USL, but worked for H & R Block Tax Office for 15 years each spring.
Bob moved to Williamsburg, VA in 1999. There he served as President of the Yorkshire Homeowners Association and Treasurer of the Holly Hills Garden Club. He was also a member of first Chairman of the Mayor’s Beautification Committee, Williamsburg, VA. Bob served as a long-time volunteer as Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
Bob is survived by Bruce Grissom Raleigh, NC his partner of 48 years, and his sisters Alura Fleming, Sidney, NY Barbara Hart, New Port Richey, FL and a brother William Grossman, Brockport, NY.
Bob requested any remembrances be directed to the fund for his hometown’s Andover Free Library. Address: Allegany County Area Foundation, PO Box 58, Belmont, NY 14813. Bob helped establish this fund in 2018.
Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. At this time no date has been established.