Rabbi Earl A. Grollman

Rabbi Earl A. Grollman (DD, DHL), 96, of Belmont, entered into rest on Friday, October 15, 2021. Earl served as a rabbi at Beth El Temple Center for 36 years, after serving as an assistant rabbi at Temple Israel in Boston. He credited his brother, Jerry, who was also a rabbi, as his great inspiration. Earl received great joy seeing the temple grow and in participating in families’ life-cycle events: births, weddings, divorces, and funerals.

In addition to being a devoted rabbi, Earl made exemplary contributions in the field of crisis prevention. A pioneer in the field of death and dying, he wrote one of the first books for children about death, Talking about Death, which won a UNESCO award. He was one of the founders of the Samaritans (where his son, Jonathan, now works), the Good Grief program, and Hospice West which is now part of Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He has traveled around the world providing solace for those who experience crisis, as well as their caregivers (including the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing, the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, and a number of school shootings). Earl had written 27 books on all aspects of loss and grief, such as Alzheimer’s disease, divorce, and death. One of his proudest moments was when he was asked to speak at the World Gathering of Bereavement in Vancouver in 2006. He was supposed to be a keynote speaker but had to cancel at the last moment due to illness. On the day he would have spoken, he received a call from someone at the conference. “Wait one second while I put you on speaker phone,” the voice had told him. All of the attendees of the conference were on the other end when it was announced the he (Earl) was the recipient of the “Father of the Flame” award. This was the first time he ever got a standing ovation when he wasn’t even there!

Protecting the rights of others was always a priority for Earl. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Alabama, and served as the head of both Fair Housing and the Clergy Concerned about Viet Nam.

Earl was vibrant, active, and very much alive, even in his 90’s. Until his death, he wrote articles and gave lectures around the country. As he once noted: “I want to grow until I go.”

He was a devoted husband to his wife, Netta Levinson Grollman, formerly from Pittsburgh. Throughout the years, she has been his greatest support and his greatest love.

In addition to his beloved wife, Netta, Rabbi Grollman leaves behind three children: David (married to Joanne Grollman), Sharon (married to Nathaniel Novod), and Jonathan (married to Marsha Grollman); six grandchildren: Jennifer Robichaud (married to William Robichaud), Eric Grollman (married to Maria Grollman), Aaron Novod (married to Kimberly Evans Novod), Sam Novod (partner of Phanny Seng), Rebecca Grollman (married to Chris Reidy), and Adam Grollman; and five great-grandchildren: Joshua Robichaud, Charlotte Robichaud, Isaac Novod, Thea Novod, and Josephine Novod. He was preceded in death by his great-grandson, Saul Novod.

Donations in the Rabbi’s memory may be sent to Beth El Temple Center, 2 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478 or Saul’s Light, a New Orleans-based nonprofit created in memory of the Rabbi’s great-grandson Saul Novod. Saul’s Light (https://www.saulslight.org/) provides support and community to families with babies in the NICUs and in the tragic event of a baby’s death. Saul's Light Foundation, P.O. Box 820146, New Orleans, LA 70182.

Funeral services were held privately. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Services under the direction of Stanetsky Memorial Chapels, www.stanetskybrookline.com.