Dr. Harvey J. Grinsell, Jr.
1927-2012
Woodstock – Dr. Harvey James Grinsell, Jr., 84, died following a long illness on Saturday January 7, 2011, surrounded by his family. Born in Putnam, CT, he was the son of the late Harvey J. Grinsell, Sr. and Ruth (Beaudrault) Grinsell.
Prior to graduating from Putnam High School in 1945, Dr. Grinsell enlisted in the Navy during World War II as a pharmacist’s mate. He was called back into the Navy as a lieutenant upon completion of his medical degree from Tufts Medical School in 1954. He took his internship at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia and served as a medical officer for the Arctic Fleet through 1956. At Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, he co-developed an antidote for hydrocarbon (lead) poisoning and conducted research on methods to diagnose spinal meningitis. He was founder and director of the Day Kimball Pediatric Center, the first known hospital-based program of its kind in the nation. He served as medical director of the John Dempsey Regional Center, where he co-developed one the state’s first early intervention programs for infants with developmental disabilities. He established in-school medical exams, immunizations and screening for children in eastern Connecticut. He brought the federal Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program to rural communities to improve maternal and childhood nutrition. The Quinebaug Valley Association for Retarded Citizens named Dr. Grinsell “Man of the Year” and the Danielson Junior Chamber of Commerce gave him their “Distinguished Service Award.” Gov. Rell inducted him into the 2009 Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame in recognition of his post-military achievements and outstanding contributions to his community. Dr. Grinsell was honored by the Town of Plainfield for establishing the Plainfield Day Kimball Pediatric Center and he will be further honored with his father, former Mayor Harvey J. Grinsell Sr., for their service to the Town of Putnam with a dedication of a park on the corner of Marshall and Providence Streets which was once the site of the family residence.
Dr. Grinsell leaves behind his loving wife of 60 years, Alma “Trudy” Grinsell of Woodstock; his children, Stephen Grinsell of Plymouth, MA; Gary (& Susan) Grinsell of Villa Park, CA; David (& Lynne) Grinsell of West Hartford, CT; Lisa Danburg of Wareham, MA; and Heidi Grinsell of Marstons Mills, MA; along with eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Harvey’s family on Friday, January 13, 2012 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday January 14, 2012 at 10:00am in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St. Putnam. Burial with military honors will follow in St Mary Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Day Kimball Hospital Pediatric Center, PO Box 632, Putnam, Ct 06260 so they may continue his mission to provide the best possible medical care to the children of our community. For Memorial Guestbook, visit www.GilmanAndValade.com
Dana Dowd
So sorry for your loss! I hope wonderful memories will
help comfort you at this time!
Darlene Buffington
I extend my deepsest sympathy to your family for your great loss.
Dr. Grinsell was my children’s first peditrician. (1978/19779) I thought he was a compassionate doctor who always communicated directly with the child. He was very thorough with attention again always to the child. My daughter broke a crayon tip off in her nose and he had to pull it out. I remembering him saying to her that you won’t do that again will you? She didn’t hesitate and responsed with, yes I will so that you can take it out again. We still remind her of that incident, especially since she has three boys of her own. I was sadden when he left the area, but it doesn’t compare to the loss you are feeling now. With Deepest Sympathy, Tom and Darlene Buffington
David Grinsell
To my mother, brothers and sisters, our spouses, and to Sue, Mark, Rob, and all our children – a special thanks to all of you for the love, devotion, comfort and support you have all given to dad and to each other over the past month. It made for a very spiritual expereince that has brought us all closer. I love you all. Dave
Denise ( Ducat) Degray
To The Grinsell Family,
Angelo and I send our most sincere condolences on the loss of this wonderful man. May you all find peace and comfort in the memories he has left you with.
Most sincerely,
Angelo and Denise (Ducat) DeGray
Gratia Gosselin
To Heidi and the membersof the Grinsell Family,
Please accept my deepest sympathy in the loss of your father. I honestly don’t remember him as the outstanding physician and philanthropist that he was, but simply as the great and loving father he was to Heidi when we were teens! I pray that you will have peace, comfort and joy in your memories.
Much Love,
Gratia (Hadis) Gosselin
Ellen Witkowski-Jones
Dear Heidi and family, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I will always remember the many, many weekends I spent on Broad Street, I felt like a part of the Grinsell family! You all have been blessed with an amazing man. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jay Crowley
My deepest sympathies to the Grinsell family. Dr. Grinsell became known to me when daughter Heidi relayed some of his extraordinary accomplishments, including the medical research and treatment for children. What a remarkable human being who gave so much to communities.
Hilary Rosenberg
To The Grinsell Family
Thanks For Sharing Your Father With Our Community. Dr. Grinsell Helped Raise Our Children And Made Us All Better Parents.
Nancy Loewinger
Didn’t know Harvey well and didn’t know him long, but he certainly left an impression. I quickly realized he was a man of great wit and dry humor, intellectually strong, unwavering in his convictions and ethics. Now that I have read his obituary, I learn he was a great contributor in the field of medical sciences as well. He must have given and received much enrichment during his life. How blessed he was to have Trudy and his children’s support to the end. My love and condolences to you Lisa, Mom, your sibs and extended family. Nancy
Ellsworth Serafine
Dr. (Harv) will be missed, I wish I could be with you all as you are just like family to me. Your father/ husband was a great man his wisdom on many things stays with me today. We have lost him here but heaven has gained a great man.
Our thoughts & prayers are with you God Bless
Ellsworth & Cheryl Serafine Atlanta GA.
Nancy Loewinger
Lisa, Trudy and family,
My thoughts are with you as you go through a difficult time. In the short time I knew him, I thoroughly appreciated his humor and quick wit. You must be very proud of his legacy and significant medical contributions he made. Obviously, a man to be reckoned with and a life well lived. Love and wishes for healing, Nancy
Maryann Borden
Dear lisa and Mark
Words cannot begin to ease the sorrow of your loss, please know that you are in the prayers of so many who care.
With Sympathy . Your Friends from Wareham
Maryann Borden
Trish
Dear Lisa — Met your dad once. However, the wonderful stories that you tell about tell about your dad, about growing up in CT, and the wonderful person that you are — I know you dad is a very special man. Reading the stories that your dad’s friends say about him – I am thinking –the apple does not fall far from the tree.
All the Grinsell family – I am so sorry for your loss. Anything I can do, let me know – David, would you like some deviled ham? Hope your sadness is replaced with fond memories soon. Love Trish
Susan Shaw
Dear Auntie Trudy and my cousins all,
I have been thinking of you all often, even before Uncle Harvey passed away, when he was still on his journey. Auntie Trudy, I am so glad Merry and I got to spend that morning with you and Harvey.
Uncle Harvey was irascible, in a good way. He could move heaven and earth for what he believed in and he did. And because of that he made a diffrerence in so many lives. He lead a life that was the epitome of doing what’s right. I have always been so proud of what he did on behalf of children and families.
And now my heart goes out to you and I send you much love and sympathy.
Susan
Sam and Diane Recupero
We first met Harvey when we all had Easter together..When he said
“hello” it gave us a feeling that we should have been friends much earlier in our lives.. He accomplished so much in life ..The legacy he left is one the Grinsell family will cherish all their lives..Our deepest
sympathies to you all….
Sam and Diane
Albert and Beth Bissonnette
To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.
Doc will always live on in our hearts through all our memories of him.
He wil be missed. Love Albert and Beth.
Joyce Suleski
Dear David:
I am saddened to hear of your father’s passing. He was truly a great man that regrettably, I never had the opportunity to meet. My mother spoke very highly of him as she consulted with him on several occasions about children in her class. Your family is our thoughts and prayers during this time.
Joyce
Michael S. Ben DDS
To Mrs. Grinsell, Steven, Gary my good buddy Dave, Lisa and Heidi. There is not a week that goes by that I don’t tell a Grinsell story at my office. I have so many great memories staying over your house , eating supper at the big round table, playing pool in the “big room” and of course all the great parties in “The Barn”. Your dad had a tremendous influence on me and the way I practice. He told you like it was. He will be sorely missed by his prefession. They don’t make them like Harvey and Dr. Robinson anymore. Harvey was bigger than life . When he said something at the dinner table you better pay attention at least I did. My deepest condolences to the Grinsells’ I miss you all.
Dr. Mike Ben and family, Fairfax, Oklahoma
frank mc nally
Trudy and family,
Bev and I share your grief at this sad time, Harvey was a good man and a wonerful Doctor and did so much for so many children, including ours.
He will be missed by many
Bev and Frank
marian smat
we were blessed to have Dr Grinsell in our area…HE TRULY CARED FOR THE CHILDREN…….some times a little gruff in his manner, but we all knew down deep he cared….rest in peace
Yvonne Lorraine Mayer Macomber
So sorry to hear of Harvey’s passing. He will surely be missed. He was the president of the class of ’45 and it was always fun to see him at our class re-unions. Times do change everything. Trudy and family, you will be in our prayers. Take care.
Lorraine Macomber
Theresa Czernicki
Lisa ,
My sincere sympathy to you and your family. I do remember your Dad at their home at the Cape. We had some lively discussions many times and I felt like part of the family! He
and your mom were very kind to me! My thoughts are with you!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Daniel Margolick
I frequently saw Dr.Grinsell in the nursery at DKH, where I worked for a couple of years. Once, as I watched him grasping a baby’s head with both hands during an examination, he peered at me and said with a straight face,”do you want me to do that to you”? I then told him,”no wonder nobody likes to go to the doctor”. Such an exchange would have been impossible with any other physician. It demonstrated how open and friendly he was to everyone. This combined with his many notable achievements, which went well beyond the simple practice of medicine, certainly set him apart. As other respondents have said, may all these good memories help ease the pain for his family.
Paul Sikora
When my family first pulled into town in the summer of 1965, Doc diagnosed my appendicitis. We still weren’t familiar with the area, so being very considerate, Doc led the way to Dr. Laakso’s for confirmation and then up to Day Kimbal where I had my surgery.
My condolences to the entire Grinsell family.
Tom Lacaire
Steve and family,
Kathleen and I extend our sincere condolences, and you are in our prayers. I was lucky to meet your Dad several times, and while I had no idea as to the extent of his accomplishments, liked him very much. The quality of his family is as much (if not more) of a tribute to him as his professional stature. You are very blessed. He lives on through you.
John Boudrot
Steve and Family,
Donna, my son John-Paul and I want to express our deepest sympathy with the completion of this “Circle of Life” for your Dad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Your Dad was the richest man in the world producing a family like your’s. The Grinsell clan is a special bunch. His legacy lives on through all of you.
Yup … time to give Mom extra “Kisses and Hugs”!!
Hope to see you in the near future,
John B.
Dennis Tetreault
Mrs. Grinsell,
On behalf of the Tetreault family, please accept our condolences. Dr. Grinsell’s friendship with my father and mother offered us a unique situation were when we kids were sick he would pay a visit to our house. I remember having my ear lanced on your kitchen table back in the 1960’s. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dennis, Jayne, Bobby and Maryann
Jeff Breault
To the Grinsell family:
Please accept my condolances on the loss of Harvey. I just learned of your loss. Whenever I think of him I cannot help smiling and recall the times I spent with him, my father, and Bit. I still remember his curbside (literally) treatment of me when I was sick and the fear he instilled in mothers (mine included) who made the mistake of challenging his diagnosis. He was gruff, abrupt, and did not suffer those whose actions made the patient’s condition worse. After all this the respect he garnered by the way he took care of those patients was the measure of the man and the standard by which I judge all doctors today. He wil be sorley missed.
Jeff