MARIETTA—Deacon Ed Grabowy, 82, died April 29 after a short illness. He served at St. Ann Church, Marietta, for many years.

Deacon Ed Grabowy

He was born March 1, 1939 in Manville, New Jersey to Edmund and Annette (Gladkowski) Grabowy. He attended Manville Public Schools from first through eighth grades. Grabowy graduated from Vocational/Technical High School in 1957, where he studied carpentry and cabinet making. After graduation, he served in the Army Reserves. 

He met his wife, Carole (Meier) on her 19th birthday. They were married on Oct. 17, 1957. 

He received an associate’s degree from Union Junior College in 1964 and then graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1966. He continued at Rutgers, where he received master’s degrees in electrical and biomedical engineering in 1969. 

Grabowy’s biomedical master’s thesis, “A Plezoelectric Vascular Assist Device,” was published and used to develop a medical heart pump. He later received a master’s degree in business in 1978 from Fairleigh Dickinson University. 

The majority of his career was at Becton Dickson in the field of medical quality control, medical product development and design and medical health and safety. 

After retiring from corporate life, Grabowy started a custom golf club-making business, “The Golf Doctor.” He was awarded Club Maker of The Year several times. 

Deacon Grabowy is survived by his wife, Carole; his son Matthew Grabowy and wife Susan Giebel; daughter Stephanie Morgan and husband Michael Morgan; granddaughter Madison Karg and fiancé Alex Bond; grandson Nathan Karg; sister Eleanor Pschar and two children; brother-in-law Bill Schlicher and two children. 

The deacon’s parents and his sister, Dorthey Schlicher, preceded him in death. 

Grabowy was ordained as a permanent deacon on May 16, 1987. He faithfully served at St. Ann Church since his ordination. He often took his work home with him, walking the floors of his apartment building, leaving prayers and blessing doors.

One of the first two deacons at the parish, Grabowy made sick visits, led Pre-Cana classes for the engaged and loved to stand at the side doors of the church for dismissal, so those parishioners could be greeted by clergy, too. 

“Deacon Ed was a true sacramental servant of the Lord,” said Father Ray Cadran, pastor. “Baptizing with great joy, joining couples in marriage with care, burying and grieving with compassion, supporting the struggling and proclaiming the Word with practical wisdom and insight. We will miss his humble, smiling ways.” 

Deacon Grabowy’s funeral and inurnment will be by invitation. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember the deacon are asked to donate to Boys Town at boystown.org.