In Remembrance: Robert A. Grummon ’59, ’63MD Died on June 6 2023

Robert Auchincloss Grummon, 85, a compassionate surgeon, avid reader, and cherished member of his community of Lafayette, passed away on June 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee, surrounded by family. 

He was born on September 27, 1937, in Summit, New Jersey, to Robert Morgan Grummon and Louise Adams Truslow. Dr. Grummon grew up on the picturesque Gray Goose Farm in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, with brother Daniel, and sisters Louise “Pat” (Bryant), Frances (Stevens), Carolyn (Taylor), and Joanna (Dotchin). Notable friendships include Polly Hill and Pete Sawyer. There he learned the values of hard work, responsibility, and a love for animals. 

As a young man, Dr. Grummon dedicated himself to the farm, toiling in the fields, caring for the animals, and assisting his father in running the farm in any way he could. His exceptional work ethic and skill as an excellent horseman were evident even then. These early experiences shaped his character and instilled in him a deep appreciation for nature and the rewards of hard work. 

Dr. Grummon's commitment to education was unwavering, leading him to graduate from Mount Hermon School in 1955 then Yale University in 1959 with a degree in zoology, and finally pursued Yale Medical School, earning his medical degree in 1963. Dr. Grummon served in the United States Navy in 1968 after his residency at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, proudly contributing his medical skills and expertise to the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. 

Following his military service, he embarked on a successful career as a surgeon, working in Cleveland Ohio, Houston Texas, Wheatland Wyoming, and Crossville and Lafayette Tennessee. Dr. Grummon's dedication to his patients and his profession earned him the respect and gratitude of many. 

In his personal life, Dr. Grummon experienced the joys of companionship and family. He married Lucetta Anne Gardner whom he met in St. Louis while a resident and together they raised two sons, Robert Auchincloss Grummon, Jr. and Charles Gardner Grummon. Later, he married Martha, expanding his family by welcoming two daughters, Teri Jacqueline Grummon and Lisa Maureen Grummon. Additionally, he married Virginia, bringing further love and happiness into his life. 

Dr. Grummon had a deep appreciation for the simplicity and close-knit nature of small-town life, and for 30 years, he called Lafayette, Tennessee his home. Within this community, he formed strong friendships, actively participating in various local activities and his church. His love for dogs, particularly his cherished springer spaniel Agnes, will forever be remembered. 

In his leisure time, he enjoyed sailing, golfing, and gardening, finding solace and contentment in these hobbies. However, it was through his voracious reading that he found true delight, with a particular passion for history and the captivating era of the Gilded Age in the United States. 

In his final years, Dr. Grummon immersed himself in the intellectual pursuit of bridge, studying and playing the game constantly. Through bridge, he formed numerous friendships, engaging in lively conversations about current events or any topic he had come across in his extensive reading. He was known for his love of conversation and his ability to discuss a wide range of subjects with enthusiasm and insight. 

Dr. Grummon was preceded in death by his brother Danny, and sisters Joanie, and Pat. He leaves behind sisters Carolyn Taylor and Fran (Jim) Stevens as well as children Robert (Leah), Charles (Rupa), Teri (John) Cayler, and Lisa (Justin) White and ten grandchildren. 

—Submitted by the family.