Born Sept. 6, 1920, Dr. Grimm graduated from Centralia High School and enrolled at the University of Washington in 1938, where he played on the freshman football team. He then enrolled in the San Francisco College of Embalming and received his license as an embalmer and funeral director, working as a circuit embalmer for numerous funeral homes in the Greater Seattle area during the war.
Dr. Grimm entered Seattle University in 1942 and received his bachelor's degree in 1945. After receiving his medical degree from Saint Louis University in 1949, he returned to Seattle and earned his certification in general practice and general surgery from Providence Hospital in 1951.
He started his 30-year association with the university athletics department as team physician and also served as team physician at Seattle Prep. He was the team physician for the great Seattle U basketball squads featuring the O'Briens, Elgin Baylor, Eddie Miles, Tom Workman, Clint Richardson, and Carl Ervin, among many, many other student-athletes.
"Dr. Grimm is one of those legendary figures in the Seattle U history books. He was revered by so many and his long loyalty to the University is a terrific example for all of us moving forward. He will be missed," said Bill Hogan, Director of Athletics.
As a physician, Dr. Grimm served as a captain in the United States Army Medical Corps from 1952-54 and was a surgeon and Medical Commander at Camp Irwin in Barstow, CA. Upon his return, Dr. Grimm opened his medical practice in Seattle, serving the community for 42 years until 1996. During that time, Dr. Grimm delivered thousands of babies and provided medical assistance to underprivileged families. He served on numerous professional boards and was Past President of Washington State Academy of Family Physicians, King County Blue Shield, King County Medical Services Corporation, and Washington State Academy of Family Physicians.
A Seattle U Athletic Hall of Famer both as an individual and as a member of two teams, Dr. Grimm was named a Legend of First Hill August 23, 2008. Dr. Grimm was also a charter member of the Seattle Seafair Clowns and was a Past President of the associated Seattle University Graduates Club.
He is survived by his wife Mary, his ten children and their spouses, two dozen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
There will be a moment of silence honoring Dr. Grimm before Tuesday's men's basketball game against Washington. The Grimm family asks that remembrances be made to the Seattle University Athletics Department, 901 12th Avenue, P.O. Box 222000, Seattle, WA, 98122.