Charles Grover

Charles Carlton Grover left us peacefully on Wednesday morning, with his mother, father, and his cat at his bedside in his apartment in Los Angeles. Charlie was an observant Jew, a scholar of books and geopolitical affairs, and a ray of sunshine to his family and friends.

Charlie was born in Cleveland in 1981. Despite severe cerebral palsy, Charlie graduated from Orange High School with highest honors in 2000. Charlie was an enthusiastic member of David Berger AZA, where he was elected Aleph Gadol (chapter president). Charlie graduated with honors from Oberlin College, where he majored in Jewish Studies and European History. Charlie was an active participant in all Hillel activities at Oberlin. He was awarded an academic scholarship to UCLA College of Law, where he earned his JD in 2010. Charlie lived in his Wilshire Boulevard apartment in Westwood for 15 years with his cats. He was an iconic presence navigating his electric wheelchair throughout the Westwood and Pico neighborhoods. Charlie was a devoted member of Westwood Kehilla congregation, which honored him as member of the year in 2024. Charlie’s brilliant intellect and his unsinkable dry sense of humor—in spite of serious physical disability and intractable pain—inspired all who knew him.

Charlie is survived by his parents Candy and Brent, his brothers Robert (Angel) and Jacob (Blake), his sister Carlton (David Hekel), a niece and nephew, and his dear friend and caregiver, Spencer Lord.

Funeral service will be Friday at 1:00PM at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial followed by burial at Mayfield Cemetery. To view this service, please scroll down to the Services Section and click on “JOIN LIVESTREAM”. Shiva will be Saturday from 7:00 to 9:00, Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 and 7:00-9:00, and Monday from 7:00 to 9:00, at 5 Lake House Lane, Hunting Valley.

Family suggests donations in Charlie’s memory to United Cerebral Palsy or Friendship Circle of Cleveland www.friendscleveland.com/charlie 27900 Gates Mills Blvd., Pepper Pike, OH 44124.