Obituary of Arthur J. Grimmie

Arthur J. Grimmie " Ottie " Arthur "Ottie" Grimmie is a man of three passions - family, golf and service. This should come as no surprise to anyone who knows the lifelong Berlin resident. Perhaps you've heard one of his many stories...maybe even more then once. Looking back, it was Ottie's childhood experience as a caddy at the exclusive Pine Valley Country Club that not only introduced him to playing golf, but began what turned into an almost daily ritual. However, the wise would not even consider giving this hustler a single stroke on the course when he complained of his age, his back, etc... When Ottie wasn't golfing, he always had Monday night on his mind - and he's wasn't thinking of Monday Night Football. For the last 65 years, Ottie has never missed a Rotary Meeting. His perfect attendance record is only one of many feats as a proud and celebrated member of the Berlin Rotary Club. Not many people would risk medical complications by leaving a hospital bed to attend a weekly meeting, but Ottie did. As a Rotary member, he helped establish the Edgewood Hospital in Berlin, which is now part of Virtua Health System. For years, he organized the "over 70 Dinners" for both Berlin and Berlin Twp senior citizens, all in the name of Rotary. In 1947, he chaired the "Fourth of July Parade Committee", an event that still thrills crowds to this very day. As a Rotarian, Ottie was instrumental in acquiring an ambulance for the V.F.W. when it provided that necessary and lifesaving service to the community. It was Ottie's small auto repair shop that was his ticket to Rotary. That he opened the business on April Fool's Day, 1940, was certainly no joke for the Borough of Berlin or the countless number of satisfied customers. This shop did not stay small for long. Through cunning business sense and what has fondly become known as "Ottie's Guide for Selling Cars", it grew from Berlin Motors, a Plymouth DeSoto Agency, to Berlin Chrysler Plymouth. Ottie's loving wife, Dorothy (nee: O'Brien) has been with him through it all. The couple has been married for 75 years. Together they have three devoted children, Barbara G. and her husband David Setzer of Salisbury, NC, Elaine J. and her husband Jerry Shell of Barrington, NJ, Arthur J. Jr. and his wife Sandi of Galloway, NJ, also ten cherished grandchildren and ten precious great grandchildren. Mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday, October 16, 11am at the St. Simon Stock Parish / Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Campus,178 W. White Horse Pike, Berlin, NJ 08009, where family and friends may call 9:30am. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations in Ottie's memory may be made to the Rotary Club of Berlin, PO Box 413, Berlin, NJ 08009. The Rotarian's 4 WAY TEST of the things we think, say, or do 1. Is it the TRUTH?....... 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and better FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?......