Bill's Death Announcement sent in email from son Larry
Passed away from a long battle with heart disease at the Oakview Heights Retirement Home in La Mesa, California on 03/10/2008.
He was born in Kinzers, PA and also lived in Mansfield Center, Ct and Lancaster, Pa for many years prior to moving to San Diego.
Bill was born in Kinzers, Pa October 16,1930 Preceded in death by his wife Bonnie Lawrence Groff in 1989. He is survived by: his son Dr. Harold L Groff, 44 and Daughter-in-law Dawn Groff with 3 Grandchildren: Matthew, Abby, Aaron Groff all of San Diego and by his son John L Groff (Larry), 54 and Daughter-in-law Liz Hincks of San Diego.
Bill served in the U. S. Navy from 1951 to 1956, during the Korean War. He then received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin-Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. He subsequently received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Brown University in the field of Sociology. He taught Sociology at the University of Connecticut from 1968 - 1985.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to www.babyheart.org in the name of LCDR Mary Sutton or LT Jobe Galli. This charity provides heart surgery for children in war-torn Afghanistan, some of whom have been evaluated by Harold Groff, who is serving there as a physician in the U. S. Navy.
