A. Grossman

Rock Island, Illinois
Raymond A. Grossman, 90, of Rock Island, died Wednesday, January 16, 2008, at Oak Glen Home, Coal Valley, IL.
Services are 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at First Lutheran Church, Rock Island, where he was a member. The Reverend Gregory Mayer is officiating. Visitation is one hour prior to the service. Burial is in the National Cemetery at the Rock Island Arsenal. Memorials may be made to The Ray Grossman Scholarship at Augustana College or a charity of your choice. Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline, is assisting the family.
Raymond Allen Grossman was born April 21, 1917, in Chicago, IL, the son of Alex and Martha (Frieden) Grossman. He earned an A.B. in History from Augustana College and an M.S. in Physical Education from George Williams University in Chicago. He served in the Army during World War II with ?The Fighting 36? in Italy and southern France. He received many medals including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Silver Star and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Army Reserves. He married Gladys Swanson on April 10, 1959, in Rock Island.
Following the war, Ray was employed by the US Department of Defense as a teacher on an American Army base in Munich, Germany. He taught all of the physical education classes at the high school. In addition, he was their only coach for football, track, basketball, and baseball. His Munich High football team won the European championship of DODD Schools in 1956.
He returned to this area as a Physical Education professor and coach at Augustana College. Ray was instrumental in developing programs for several sports, including gymnastics, wrestling and soccer. He was the head wrestling coach and assisted in track and football. For many summers, he was a lifeguard, taught swimming, and managed the pool at the R.I. Arsenal Club.
During his long teaching career, Ray worked in Illinois, Florida, California, and Nevada schools. He was qualified to teach a great variety of subjects, including History, Math, Science, English, Physical Education, and multiple languages. In recent years, he enjoyed substitute teaching at Rock Island High School.
Ray was a member of Augustana?s Tribe of Vikings and the Pi Upsilon Gamma fraternity. He trained horses for jumping competition in Europe and the United States, and was a judge for the American Horse Shows Association, Inc. He remained very active all his life, enjoying swimming and diving competitions as a senior, even diving in the California Master?s Competition.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter: Lucie Marinov of Apple Valley, CA; grandchildren: Gregory and Christine Marinoff, both of Apple Valley; step-daughters: Vicki (Lee) Wassenhove of Milan, IL, and Wendy Jeffries of Hemet, CA; and a sister: Isabelle Schmid of Chicago, IL. He was preceded in death by a brother, Harold Grossman, and a sister, Leola Manderscheid.
Visit a web page about his life at http://home.mchsi.com/~wazz/ray.htm
The family invites you to share stories and condolences and light a candle in Raymond?s memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.