Professor Richard E. Grojean
Send a condolence note

New Hampshire-----Professor Richard E. Grojean, 85, of 52 Magnolia Lane, Belmont died at the Lakes Region General Hospital, Laconia on Friday, December 19, 2008.

Dick was born in Washington Heights, New York City, on March 1, 1923 in New York, New York, the son of Eugene and Elizabeth (Killkenny) Grojean.
Dick lived in the Boston/Brighton/Brookline, Mass. area for several years and was a graduate of Brookline High School. In 1941, he entered Northeastern University School of Engineering. He volunteered for the Army in 1942 and was assigned to the Volunteer Reserve Corps at N.U. In April of 1943, he volunteered for active duty. In January 7, 1944, his battalion was sent to France. It was assigned to Third Army and attached to 12th Corps defending the southern flank of the “Bulge” at Dalheim Luxembourg. After the “Bulge”, it remained in support of various divisions, corps and engineering groups through southern Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia.

Dick returned to Northeastern University School of Liberal Arts in 1946 and received a BS in Math/Physics in 1948. He entered Tufts University Graduate School in the Physics Dept. in 1948 and received a M.S. in Physics from Tufts in 1950. He taught at Brandies University for four years and was also a professor at Northeastern University for thirty-five years. He held membership in several honor and professional societies, including: Sigma Pi Sigma Graduate Student Research Society, Sigma Xi Professional Research Society, President of the Northeastern University Branch, Optical Society of America and was elected a Fellow for his contributions to Optical Science.

Dick was a communicant of Saint Jerome Catholic Church, Weymouth, Mass. where he served as a lector for twenty-eight years and as Director of Lectors for the last ten years. He served for nine years on their Appropriation Committee and several building committees for the Town of Weymouth. He lived in Weymouth for many years before moving to Belmont, N. H. seven years ago.

Dick enjoyed painting, bowling and swimming.

Dick is survived by his wife, Lorraine (Baker) Grojean, of Belmont, N.H.; two sons, Christopher and John; two daughters, Mary and Elizebeth ; a stepson, Clifton; three stepdaughters, Rae-Marie, Debra and Pamela; twelve grandchildren; eight great grandchildren and several nephews and nieces. In addition to his parents and his first wife, Jean (Reidy) Grojean, Dick was predeceased by a sister, Patricia Morris.

There will be no calling hours.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Parish, 96 Main Street, Belmont, N.H. on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 10:00AM.
Burial will follow at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen, N.H.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Community Health & Hospice, Inc., 780 North Main Street, Laconia, N.H. 03246

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. is in charge of the arrangements.