RIP Jim! I am all the more glad to have seen you at the 50th, and to have heard your wonderful remarks. Dear Barbie, please know "Grody" will remain in our hearts and fondest memories of WFB. I send you big hugs!
I remember well 1st arriving in WFB in 8th grade at Henry Clay. Jim was so welcoming & I was happy to be part of his group that got to go to WFBHS for our morning Algebra class. A special group-Martha, Roy, Rich, Kathy Laurie, Lindy & the others. RIP, Jim. Fondly, Carol Burns Micklas
Our wonderful Jim. The sweetest, kindest and most supportive friend a person could have. I too arrived at Henry Clay in November of 8th grade and went to math at WFB. He knew how I struggled and yet encouraged me daily. I will be forever grateful for having him as a buddy. I can still hear his quiet laughter. He was a gift to all of us.
James Stuart Grodin, known to all as Jim, passed away on October 13, 2019. Jim was born on December 11, 1945, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Florence (Smith) and Edward Grodin. He graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1964 and attended the University of Wisconsin. He majored in history, and there began a lifelong study of the history of WWII. He spent his junior year abroad at the University of Freiburg in Germany, where he became fluent in German.
Jim married Barbara Lustok, on August 25, 1968. He deferred his enrollment in law school to enlist in the Army Reserves, Intelligence, where he translated German documents and transmissions. In 1972, Jim graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and began practicing with his father in their Milwaukee-based law firm aptly named Grodin & Grodin. It was there that he honed his skills as a litigator, working every case that came his way - from petty crime to family law to personal injury to corporate family matters, which gave him a tremendous breadth of experience as he grew his practice. Jim was a father to son Benjamin (born in 1972), daughter Anne (1975), and son Michael (1980). I
n 1988, the family moved to Orlando, Florida, where Jim joined Foley & Lardner as a civil litigator. While law was his career, his engagement in the Orlando community was his passion. Some of the highlights: President of the Orlando Jewish Federation, President of Congregation Ohev Shalom, Operation Exodus Chair (helping to resettle Russian Immigrants), teacher at the Orlando Beit Hamidrash (Jewish high school), member of the Orlando Opera Board, member of the Lake Brantley booster club, and countless hours of pro bono work done as an attorney.
For nearly 40 years, Jim’s main hobby was running. He completed several marathons and half marathons. He ran in the icy temperatures of Milwaukee winters as well as the midday heat of Orlando summers; he would always say the weather was “part of the experience”.
Jim was a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan and was a fountain of past and present Packers knowledge. He cheered for his Wisconsin Badgers as well, but once his three kids went to the University of Florida, his college team became the Gators. He would drive up often for Gator games, and he loved that he had twelve straight years of access to home game tickets.
Jim is survived by his wife of 51 years, Barbara (Lustok) Grodin, his children and children-in-law Ben and Elana Grodin of Orlando, Annie and Josh D’Agostino of Atlanta, and Mike and KaraAnne Grodin of Seattle, his brother Tom (Valerie) Grodin of Encino, CA and his sister Jane (Ira) Carlin of Rancho Santa Fe, CA. He was also extremely proud to be the grandfather of seven granddaughters and one grandson: Hannah and Zachary Grodin (Orlando); Elena, Sari, and Mira D’Agostino (Atlanta); and Mischa, Dinah, and Ronia Grodin (Seattle).
Services will be held Thursday, October 17, at 10:00 at the Ohev Shalom cemetery, 6034 Old Winter Garden Rd, Orlando, FL, 32835. If you wish to donate in his honor, please consider the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, https://curealz.org/outreach/in-memory/jim-grodin/, an organization that is contributing greatly to Alzheimer’s research.
Message from Kevin Kelley to Jim's wife and daughter, Annie:
I along with a lot of people loved your dad. We were not best buds - but we connected because as you know, this is what your Dad did as well as anyone I have ever met. Innate curiosity and interest in people - that's what he specialized in. Grody tried to keyhole me through Algebra II with tutoring sessions, but at that time in life I was very busy bouncing balls and chasing girls, and as my wife tells me, I seemed to have enough energy on that level to go to two high schools, which activities left me a bit too exhausted to really hone in on formulas, or whatever was going on in Algebra. Physics, etc.. On to law school - the War years - and still your Dad could scratch up a spare set of notes or was around to answer the 1 AM booze call after my mates and I had gone through the reserves, played Question Mark and the Mysterian's "96 tears" a hundred times, and were, on the move. "Just leave it outside Grodes - we won't bother you a bit!" Your mother would just roll her eyes as if this were somehow quasi-run of the mill.
My friend Denny Burke remembered Jim as a tough tackle on the Blue Dukes line and a funny good guy. WFB '64 got the right guy for class president. Anything he wanted to try he did 100 plus - Running, sailboarding, marathons, - not much reverse in this guy. I saw the pictures from one of the kids' wedding - what a beautiful and successful group. Life: good luck, and then some bad. I miss his hearty laugh, smile and the signature slap on the back.
And I must admit I am so pleased he shared a "Kelley" story when, after pounding Eskatrol all night, I showed for the T&E exam and was greeted with: "Mr. Kelley, I'm August Eckhart. I taught this course this semester. I just thought I would introduce myself because this is the first chance we've had to meet."
I wiggled through - moved north to Three Lakes to tend bar for 6 months and 46 years later, we're still here. Please share my thoughts and condolences with your Mom Best of luck to all the Grodins of whatever stripe and generation - you were all so lucky to have him. Kevin Kelley
Steve Swedlow
You and your family are in my heart and mind. My most sincere condolences.
Cousin Steven Swedlow
Pam Dunlop (Becker)
RIP Jim! I am all the more glad to have seen you at the 50th, and to have heard your wonderful remarks. Dear Barbie, please know "Grody" will remain in our hearts and fondest memories of WFB. I send you big hugs!
Pam Dunlop Becker
Judy Lewis (Burdett)
What a wonderful, kind, caring guy. I loved our walks to school together.
I'm so happy I saw Jim at our last reunion. Such a class act!
Carol Burns (Micklas)
I remember well 1st arriving in WFB in 8th grade at Henry Clay. Jim was so welcoming & I was happy to be part of his group that got to go to WFBHS for our morning Algebra class. A special group-Martha, Roy, Rich, Kathy Laurie, Lindy & the others. RIP, Jim. Fondly, Carol Burns Micklas
Barbara Boat (Wright)
Our wonderful Jim. The sweetest, kindest and most supportive friend a person could have. I too arrived at Henry Clay in November of 8th grade and went to math at WFB. He knew how I struggled and yet encouraged me daily. I will be forever grateful for having him as a buddy. I can still hear his quiet laughter. He was a gift to all of us.
Valerie Hammond (Jablonka)
JAMES GRODIN OBITUARY - From Barby
James Stuart Grodin, known to all as Jim, passed away on October 13, 2019. Jim was born on December 11, 1945, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Florence (Smith) and Edward Grodin. He graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1964 and attended the University of Wisconsin. He majored in history, and there began a lifelong study of the history of WWII. He spent his junior year abroad at the University of Freiburg in Germany, where he became fluent in German.
Jim married Barbara Lustok, on August 25, 1968. He deferred his enrollment in law school to enlist in the Army Reserves, Intelligence, where he translated German documents and transmissions. In 1972, Jim graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and began practicing with his father in their Milwaukee-based law firm aptly named Grodin & Grodin. It was there that he honed his skills as a litigator, working every case that came his way - from petty crime to family law to personal injury to corporate family matters, which gave him a tremendous breadth of experience as he grew his practice. Jim was a father to son Benjamin (born in 1972), daughter Anne (1975), and son Michael (1980). I
n 1988, the family moved to Orlando, Florida, where Jim joined Foley & Lardner as a civil litigator. While law was his career, his engagement in the Orlando community was his passion. Some of the highlights: President of the Orlando Jewish Federation, President of Congregation Ohev Shalom, Operation Exodus Chair (helping to resettle Russian Immigrants), teacher at the Orlando Beit Hamidrash (Jewish high school), member of the Orlando Opera Board, member of the Lake Brantley booster club, and countless hours of pro bono work done as an attorney.
For nearly 40 years, Jim’s main hobby was running. He completed several marathons and half marathons. He ran in the icy temperatures of Milwaukee winters as well as the midday heat of Orlando summers; he would always say the weather was “part of the experience”.
Jim was a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan and was a fountain of past and present Packers knowledge. He cheered for his Wisconsin Badgers as well, but once his three kids went to the University of Florida, his college team became the Gators. He would drive up often for Gator games, and he loved that he had twelve straight years of access to home game tickets.
Jim is survived by his wife of 51 years, Barbara (Lustok) Grodin, his children and children-in-law Ben and Elana Grodin of Orlando, Annie and Josh D’Agostino of Atlanta, and Mike and KaraAnne Grodin of Seattle, his brother Tom (Valerie) Grodin of Encino, CA and his sister Jane (Ira) Carlin of Rancho Santa Fe, CA. He was also extremely proud to be the grandfather of seven granddaughters and one grandson: Hannah and Zachary Grodin (Orlando); Elena, Sari, and Mira D’Agostino (Atlanta); and Mischa, Dinah, and Ronia Grodin (Seattle).
Services will be held Thursday, October 17, at 10:00 at the Ohev Shalom cemetery, 6034 Old Winter Garden Rd, Orlando, FL, 32835. If you wish to donate in his honor, please consider the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, https://curealz.org/outreach/in-memory/jim-grodin/, an organization that is contributing greatly to Alzheimer’s research.
Kevin Kelley
Message from Kevin Kelley to Jim's wife and daughter, Annie: