Obituary of William Grumman

William Grumman May 24, 2021 William Grumman, formerly a life-long resident and descendant of the early settlers of Norwalk, CT, died of heart failure at 92, on Monday, May 24, 2021. Bill was a graduate of The Peddie School, of Hightstown, N.J. and attended Cornell University where he lettered on the hockey team. He graduated from New York University with a degree in Civil Engineering, having been elected to and serving as chapter president of Chi Epsilon, the national civil engineering honorary society, and elected to Tau Beta Pi, the engineering equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. His education was interrupted by service in the U.S. Army at the advent of the Korean War. He served in the Corps of Engineers in Ft. Eustis, Virginia and in Korea, where he rose to operations sergeant of the 10th Engineer Combat Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. Upon release from active duty, he resumed evening studies while working as a surveyor with Leonard Engineers and then with the Connecticut State Highway Department as an engineer engaged in preliminary surveys and plans for Interstate 95, High Ridge Road widening in Stamford, North Avenue reconstruction in Westport, and flood damage assessment in the Naugatuck and Norwalk River Valleys following the floods of 1955. Licensed as a Land Surveyor and a Professional Engineer, he joined the City of Norwalk’s Public Works Department and rose to Commissioner of Public Works in 1970. His tenure with the City of Norwalk included South Norwalk redevelopment projects and extensive sewer extensions and flood protections throughout Norwalk. Bill left the city employ in 1973 to enter private engineering practice, providing civil and environmental engineering designs throughout Fairfield County. In 1997 the Mayor of Norwalk requested his return as Director of Public Works. Besides his wife, Linda, Bill leaves his daughters Ellen and Sarah, and their mother Elizabeth, grandchildren Brendan, Brianna, Margaret, William, Kenneth, and Kelvin, and great grandchildren Wyatt and Morgan. He was predeceased by his brothers Sherman and Robert. He is survived by his sister Louise, and five nieces and nephews. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to DAV/Disabled American Veterans at www.DAV.org.