Sidney Joseph Grosman

Zdenek "Sidney" Josef Grosman January 24, 1920 ~ January 23, 2013 They say that life is a journey. For Zdenek "Sidney" Josef Grosman, that journey started in Czechoslovakia and ended half-way around the world, in Wenatchee, WA, with many stops along the way. Sidney died January 23, 2013, at the Souve Family Home, just one day shy of his 93rd birthday. Sidney was born in 1920, in Hodonin, Czechoslovakia, to Eduard and Matylda Grossmann. He was a competitive athlete involved in gymnastics, fencing, and tennis. At one time, he was competing on the Czechoslovakian national fencing team. He graduated from the Commercial Academy in 1940. During World War II, he worked as an accountant. After the War, with Czechoslovakia under the control of the Soviet Union, Sidney and a friend plotted to escape from Czechoslovakia. They first joined the Czechoslovakian Army, and later he worked as an exporter, which allowed him to make contacts outside of Czechoslovakia. They ended up in a refugee camp (Camp Unterjettingen) in West Germany and were later sent to camps in Naples and Salerno, Italy. He worked as a camp administrative assistant and as a special interviewer to the USA Displaced Persons Commission. In 1951, he contracted tuberculosis and was sent to Sweden for care. While in Sweden, he met and married Birgitta Svensen. They immigrated to the United States in 1959, and moved to Seattle, where Sidney worked as a bookkeeper. He went back to school at the University of Washington to earn his Bachelor's degree in French and later, a Master's degree in German. Sidney, known by his students as Herr Grosman, taught French, German, and Spanish at Wenatchee High School, beginning in 1966. He also coached the fencing team. Sidney enjoyed fishing, skiing, camping, and vegetable gardening. Sidney is survived by his daughter, Katrina Clift, and her husband, Ray, of Columbia City, OR; his son, Peter Grosman, of East Wenatchee; his granddaughter, Karli Ebert and her husband, Simon, of Columbia City, OR; and his grandson, Joe Clift, of Columbia City, OR. His family would like to thank Roger Souve and his staff for all their care and kindness. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee, WA.

Sidney Joseph Grosman

January 24, 1920 - January 23, 2013