Dr. Alan R. Gruber

Of Marshfield, formerly of Cohasset, after a brave battle with cancer on 23 October 2023, at the age of 84. Having grown up in Roxbury, he served in the Army and, later, earned three doctorates; social welfare, psychology, and medicine. He worked primarily in research over the last decades but also continued to see patients until June of this year.

He authored several books and journal articles and was a faculty member of multiple colleges, graduate and medical schools. His last faculty position was as Professor of Medicine and Medical Psychology at Saba Medical School. He was the Principal Investigator or Sub-Investigator of more than 25 clinical research studies. He and his wife, Dr. Helen Gruber, later with their children and grandchildren, worked in El Salvador, with Asociacion Salvadorena Pro Salud Rural, assisting the poorest people in the country with medical, optometric, surgical eye care, educational and social programs for more than 35 years. They established and supported a library for children in Santa Ana, El Salvador, in memory of their son, Eric Bruce, who died as an infant.

He met his wife, Dr. Helen (Fleagal) Gruber, in college and they were married 63 years ago. She was the love of his life and his best friend. Together, they had three children, Eric, Elizabeth Gruber, living in Cohasset, and Kerry Gruber Vella, living in Australia. He is survived by Helen, Liz, Kerry and his grandchildren, Anya Gruber, Sarah Gruber, Jacob Vella, Noah Vella, and his son-in-law Anthony Vella. Family was always his most important and defining responsibility and he was very close to his extended family, the Lefkowiths, Zuckers, Maharams, Hatoffs, Macks, Evertons, Van De Walles, and Grubers. He was proud of his family and felt as though his children and grandchildren were his and Helen’s greatest legacy. He never let the good days be overpowered by the bad ones and being with his family was his greatest source of joy. He most wanted to be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Service is at Congregation Sha’aray Shalom, 1112 Main St, Hingham on Wednesday, Oct 25 at 11am. Burial to follow. Shiva will be at Alan and Helen’s home on Wednesday evening, Oct 25 at 7pm.

Services will be livestreamed at the following link: https://shaaray.livecontrol.tv/da047934

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, the general fund at Congregation Sha’aray Shalom in Hingham, or the general fund at Partners for Visual Health, 91 Tidewater Farm Rd, Stratham, NH 03885.