Guidance Counselor

Joseph J. Grohovsky, 85, died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007, in Indianapolis.

He was born July 21, 1922, in Rock Springs, Wyo., to Charles Grohovsky and Anna Kachir.

Survivors include his sons, Steve Grohovsky and his wife Fernanda of Indianapolis, Mike Grohovsky and wife Grayce of Bloomington, Minn.; and John Grohovsky and wife Jill of New Albany; grandchildren, Diane, Thomas, Alex, Stephanie, Maria, Gabe and Luke Grohovsky; a sister, Ann Carroll of Conroe, Texas; sisters-in-law, Louise Grohovsky, Betty Azar, and family friend, Tina Fenoglio, all of Terre Haute; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Mary Tanoos Grohovsky, in July 2003; three sisters and five brothers.

As a teenager during the Depression, he worked at West Drug Store on Lafayette Avenue. He graduated with honors from Gerstmeyer High School in 1940. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, at the same time four other siblings were also members of the armed services. The five Grohovskys were recognized as Terre Haute’s First War Family in 1945, He received his bachelor’s degree in education from Indiana State University in 1948, and his master’s degree from Indiana University in 1953. On July 4, 1951, he married the former Mary Tanoos in a ceremony attended by then-Mayor Ralph Tucker. After teaching at high schools in Illinois from 1948 to 1962, he returned to Terre Haute and worked at Wiley High School, where he taught business, typing and Russian, which he learned at Dartmouth University in the summer of 1967.

In 1971, he became a guidance counselor at Terre Haute North Vigo High School and retired from secondary education in 1984. Among his many hobbies were flower and vegetable gardening, fishing, painting, mosaic tile art, wine making, and Eastern European food, languages and cultures. He was past president of St. Patrick’s parish council, an usher and was heavily involved with St. Patrick Soup Kitchen. He also was known for the bounty of flowers and garden produce that he gave away to family, friends and neighbors every summer. On March 17, 1982, he was named an honorary mayor of Terre Haute and presided over the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Visitation was at Callahan-DeBaun Funeral Home, 2425 Wabash Ave., on October 4th. Mass of Christian Burial was Friday, October 5, 2007 in St. Patrick Catholic Church. Interment followed at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the St. Patrick Soup Kitchen through St. Patrick Catholic Church.