A great man is one who leaves others at a loss after he is gone.
-Paul Valery

1938 was a year of change: the first Bugs Bunny Cartoon  aired; Seabiscuit defeated War Admiral at Pimlico Race Course; a 450-metric ton meteorite exploded 12 miles above the earth near Chicora, PA, and Robert Grenoble was born in Woolrich, Pennsylvania.
Robert James Grenoble was the fourth child born to John Grenoble, a prison warden,  and Hazel Duck, a devout Quaker and Pennsylvania Dutch homemaker.  As a young boy, Bobby was drawn to animals, hunting, farming, and mischief.  He was afraid of nothing, and learned to run very, very fast to avoid his Mom’s wooden spoon. That talent for running would serve him well as a running back in high school and college football, and as a batter and catcher in college in twilight league baseball.  His ability to wriggle out of tight spaces in college wrestling helped him survive 2 years in the jungle behind enemy lines in North Vietnam.  All of his early experiences prepared him to be the beloved father, husband, protector and provider he was during his long and busy life. 
Bob graduated from West Shore High School in LeMoyne, Pennsylvania, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education at Lock Haven State College (now Lock Haven University), where he was known as “Grenny”.  His college yearbook mentioned he was a “Clown…a brain…[who] belongs in the eraser throwing club.”  Bob graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education from James Madison University in Virginia, and began teaching and coaching, a shock to all his high school teachers, who should have known that class clown to teacher is a natural transition for a member of the eraser throwing club.
Bob’s later professional career included working as a lobbyist in Washington, DC for the Manufactured Housing and the National Nutritional Foods Associations. Later, as Executive Director of the Interex Users Group for Hewlett Packard in Sunnyvale, CA and President of the Boston Computer Society in Cambridge, MA, he worked to improve publications, increase membership, and organize trade shows in the US and internationally.
It was In Sunnyvale CA, while working at Interex, that Bob met Suzanne and proposed on their third date.  Their daughter Nikki was born and they moved to Oregon, where they managed Willamette Market, a convenience store and deli.  However, the East was calling and they moved to Harvard, Massachusetts, where their second daughter Monique was born.  Finally, the family moved to Greenfield in 2021. 
Although Bob enjoyed nonprofit management, in his heart he preferred teaching. As a History and Government teacher at New Leadership and Renaissance Charter Schools in Springfield, he created a safe place for students to chill and relax during the school day. Bob offered his students his salad and his V8 juice- every day- which they politely declined. His students called him ‘Dad’ and ‘Grandpa’.  He got a standing ovation at the New Leadership graduation ceremony, and he deserved it. 
As much as he loved his students, Bob was never happier than when he was working in his garden here in Greenfield. He devoted himself to vegetable gardening, providing fresh pesticide-free food to friends and family all summer long.  His retirement years were spent outside building fences and working in the garden, planting, weeding, harvesting.  It was a special trick of his to fill the kitchen sink with tomatoes and then walk away.
A poet once said: A great man is one who leaves others at a loss after he is gone.  I would say that in Bob’s case, a greater man is one who leaves the world better than he found it. Bob was full of life, care and comfort to others.  He was a mentor, a best friend, a loving husband and father and left all who knew him with memories that they will cherish forever.
Besides his beloved wife of thirty six years, Suzanne Grenoble, Robert leaves two daughters, Nicole Grenoble and her husband Donald Thiel III of Los Angeles, CA and Monique Grenoble and her partner Maria McMonigle of Quincy, MA; a sister, Janet Saylor, and a brother, Ronald Grenoble. He also leaves 2 granddaughters, Elizabeth and Alexandra Grenoble, and many cherished nieces and nephews. Bob was predeceased by his sons Grant Scott and Mark Grenoble, a brother, John Grenoble, Jr., his sister in law, Connie Grenoble, and brother in law Don Saylor.
Calling hours will be Thursday May 30 from  4 - 6 at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 220 Federal Street, Greenfield. Burial will be private.  A Memorial Service will be held later this spring.  
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.
For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com