Geoffrey Jackson Groves

Geoff is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn; his sister Linda; three sons Rodger (Christina), Scott and Damon (Miesha). He was especially proud of his four granddchildren; Emerald, Taylor, Keegan, and Mia Groves. He was preceded in death by his father, Clifford L. Groves, his mother, Norna D. Groves, his first wife of 37 years, Mimi P. Groves and his brother, Rodger Groves.

Geoff was born in San Mateo, CA on August 31, 1943, and grew up on Balboa Island and in Altadena, CA. An exceptional student and athlete at John Muir High School in Pasadena, Geoff graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD in June 1965. For the next five years, he served aboard USS Mansfield (DD-728) as Gunnery Officer, USS Kemper County (LST-854) as Operations Officer, and USS Polk County (LST-1084) first as Executive Officer and then as Commanding Officer, becoming the first in his Annapolis graduating class to achieve Command at Sea, of which he was very proud. Decorated for bravery in combat against the North Vietnamese aboard Mansfield, and exceptional navigation aboard Polk County, Geoff retired from the Navy in 1970, and joined IBM. He had a 15-year career at IBM in sales and sales management becoming the #1 salesperson in the country in his division in 1975, and then spent the remainder of his career in sales and senior executive positions in the medical software arena, retiring in 2007.

But it wasn’t just about the “career” for Geoff. He had a passion for reading, especially biographies and history, but also for large, sweeping novels. He loved to cook, and with his gourmet wife, Marilyn, loved to entertain friends at their home. Geoff had been very active athletically all his life and was very proud of his three sons and of having coached them in football prior to high school. Geoff played tennis and golf, and after open heart surgery in 1993, took up rowing in his single scull and fencing. His emphysema and COPD finally caused him to give up rowing and fencing in 2013, but he found great joy throughout his life in golf on trips to the coast of Oregon with his three sons, and semi-annual golf outings with three of his shipmates from Polk County.

Funeral services will be held on June 11 at 11:00 am at Saint Matthew’s Anglican Catholic Church in Newport Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the United States Naval Academy Foundation, Annapolis, MD.