This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Herb Gram passed peacefully in his sleep on June 15 at his home in Madison. He was the son of Herbert Raymond Gram, Sr., and Inez Kaiser of Belmont, Massachusetts, where he and sister Beverly spent an active and happy childhood.

After graduating from Northeastern University, he took graduate courses at MIT and Harvard Business School. As an electrical engineer, he accepted a position at Baird Atomic Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He progressed to director of engineering and worked extensively in research and development to design many products (he holds 27 patents), most of which are industry standard and in use worldwide.

Herb’s design work was increasingly sought after, and his natural puzzle-solving inventions using spectroscopy, programming, and engineering led to his founding his own corporation, Spectrogram, in 1968. The multiple products developed during the thirty plus years of his company before he retired are still in use in a variety of applications worldwide. The demand for his expertise brought him across the country, and to South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Herb was grateful to have met so many from such different parts of the world and to learn about their lives.

Herb married his first wife in 1952. They had four children, Bruce, Christopher, Jeffrey, and Leslie, who brought him great pride with happy families of their own, including seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Later Herb married Joan Friborg in 1967, happily having one daughter, Charlotte, and two grandchildren.

Despite Herb’s busy business, he was very active in his community. He led his sons’ Boy Scout troop, was an active member and chairman of the Inland Wetlands Committee, and was on the board of the Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts. Retirement from Spectrogram Corporation led to even more involvement in town and state—Herb was never one to sit still. A staunch advocate for the environment, he was a member of the Long Island Sound Authority, member and president of the Madison Property Owner’s Association, member of the Citizens for a Clean Hammonasset River, and attended and spoke at many political sessions in Hartford to advocate for change. He loved and supported Hammonassett State Park and the bird sanctuary there.

Herb often donated his time to community events, volunteered at the Madison Soup Kitchen, and lent a helping hand to many friends. Herb and Joanie enjoyed many years with friends at the Quinnipiack Club, the Madison Country Club, the Madison Beach Club, and the Madison Lawn Bowling Club. He would tell wonderful stories, explain anything scientific, and was often found laughing with friends. He loved greatly, was greatly loved, and will be greatly missed.

At Herb’s request, there will be no memorial or funeral services. Any persons wishing to make donations may choose any environmental group close to their heart in his name and we thank you! To sign the online guestbook, please visit hawleylincolnmemorial.com.