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05/23/2018 12:00 AM


Clinton

David Curt Grimm, 90, of Clinton, passed away unexpectedly on May 7 in New Haven. He was the devoted husband of 49 years to renowned artist Lucille Davis Grimm, until her death in 2002. For the past 13 years, Ruth Raleigh was his beloved partner.

Dave was born on June 14, 1927, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Dr. Justin Max Grimm and Matilda Maier Grimm. Six-feet-four, he was a basketball star at Cleveland High in St. Louis. Upon graduation in 1945, he joined the Navy. After WWII, he entered what is now Missouri University of Science and Technology. He was a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and president of his junior class. He obtained a B.S. in metallurgical engineering in 1950. Dave earned an M.B.A. from St. Louis University in 1953.

He worked as a metallurgical engineer in St. Louis, including on Project Mercury at McDonnell Aircraft Corp. In 1964, he and his family became New Englanders when he was hired by a Boston manufacturer of textile looms. In the late 1960s and 1970s, Dave worked for several firms and the family lived in New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and again in New Hampshire.

In 1979, he became owner and president of Clinton-based Argo Transdata Corp., a manufacturer and supplier of printed circuit board assemblies. Argo outgrew its original building and Dave moved the company to Heritage Industrial Park. He sold the company in 2001. In 2005, he was inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Mines and Metallurgy.

He possessed an immense sense of curiosity and was an avid world traveler with Lucy, and continued to travel after her death. He and Ruth, also widowed, found late-in-life love. They traveled widely, were active members of the Madison Winter Club, and attended the First Congregational Church of Madison. In later years, Dave stoically battled life-threatening illnesses and lived to celebrate his 90th birthday with the help of Ruth’s loving and capable care.

Kind and generous, Dave cherished his family. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth (Libby) Grimm, son-in-law Norm Zeigler, and grandson Travis Zeigler of Sanibel Island, Florida, and granddaughter Katrina Zeigler Sherman, grandson-in-law Hunter Sherman, and great-grandson Archer Sherman of Austin, Texas; and by his son Curt Grimm, daughter-in-law Monica Ciolfi, and granddaughter Lily Ciolfi of Concord, New Hampshore.

Dave is also survived by his brother-in-law David Baumgartner of Oxnard, California, and nine nieces and nephews. In addition to Lucy, he was predeceased by his beloved daughter Cecilia Ellen Grimm, his sister Mary Louise Baumgartner, sister-in-law Ann Rowe Davidson, and brother-in-law Ralph Neal Davis. He was very fond of Ruth’s four children and their families.

A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on May 19 at the First Congregational Church of Madison. A reception was held afterward at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to either of the following: The Cecilia Grimm Memorial Scholarship (scholarship for Morgan High School graduates); send checks to the Town of Clinton Finance Dept., 54 East Main St., Clinton, CT 06413; or The David C. Grimm Scholarship Fund to recognize Alpha Kappa Chapter members of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Missouri University of Science and Technology (recipients will “excel in campus involvement, community service, scholastic achievement, and chapter contribution”); send checks to Miner Alumni Association (memo line: David C. Grimm Scholarship Fund), 1100 North Pine St., Rolla, MO 65409. For information about electronic contributions, please email Renee Stone at renees@mst.edu. The Miner Alumni Association can be reached by calling 800-566-4637.