Marvin (H.) Grody

Dr. Marvin H. Terry Grody, a nationally renowned gynecologist, died peacefully at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 7, 2015. He had attained world-wide recognition as an innovator and dynamic educator in the evolving areas of gynecology dealing with vaginal, pelvic reconstructive, and urogynecologic surgery.
Dr. Grody was born on April 27, 1922, in Hartford, CT. He was the son of Shirley (Myerowitz) Grody and George Everett Grody of Hartford, CT. He leaves his wife of 63 years, Susan Brownstein Grody, of Philadelphia, PA, two sons, Jeffrey Grody and his wife, Marilyn, of West Hartford, CT, Miles Grody and his wife, Lynn, of Potomac, MD, and a daughter, Erica Grody Levens and her husband David Levens, of South Salem, NY. He also leaves seven grandchildren: Jessica, Andrea and Brandon Grody of West Hartford, CT, Max and Charles Grody of Potomac, MD, and Philip and Terrence Levens of South Salem, NY. In addition, he leaves a brother, Allan D. Grody, and his wife, Margie, formerly of West Hartford, CT, now residing in Point Pleasant, SC. He was predeceased by a sister, Doris Grody Quint Brunelle.
Dr. Grody graduated from Weaver High School in 1939. He earned his BA degree in 1943 from the University of Pennsylvania in 1943 and his MD degree from the School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania in 1946. He interned at Hartford Hospital in 1946-47. During 1947-1949, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in post-World War II occupied Germany. On his return, Dr. Grody fulfilled a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) at the Barnes Hospital Medical Center and the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO.
In 1953, Dr. Grody began his first career, as an OB/GYN in private practice in Hartford. He was affiliated with the attending staffs of Hartford Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Connecticut John Dempsey Hospital. Shortly before his 65th birthday, in 1986 Dr. Grody embarked on his second career as a medical school professor. This began with an appointment to the OB/GYN faculty of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University and the associated position of Director of Gynecologic Surgery at the Presbyterian Hospital Medical Center in New York. From 1990-2001, he was a Professor of OB/GYN at the Temple University School of Medicine and the Director of Gynecology at the Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. The final six years of his career, as Professor of OB/GYN at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Senior Gynecologic Consultant at the Cooper University Hospital-UMDNJ, concluded in December, 2006.
In his private practice years, Dr. Grody conducted some 5,500 obstetrical deliveries. In his combined years in practice and academia, he performed and participated in over 6,000 major operations with concentration on vaginal, pelvic reconstructive and gynecologic procedures. He published dozens of scientific manuscripts and appeared over 100 times as visiting guest speaker in Grand Rounds programs, and numerous other times as guest speaker, guest surgeon and visiting faculty in the United States and around the world. He directed nearly 20 national surgical conferences. He was also a pioneer in the production of videos teaching gynecological surgery procedures.

Dr. Grody was recognized as Distinguished Surgeon of 2001 by the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS). Dr. Grody was cited as the Distinguished Vaginal Surgeon of 1998 by the Society of Pelvic Reconstructive Surgeons. He received ACOG Presidential Medals in 1995 for Outstanding Continued Educational Activity and in 1997 for District Educational Audiovisual Contributions. He was especially proud to be recognized by medical students as Best Clinical Teacher at Temple University School of Medicine in 1997. In 2000, he discussed pelvic organ prolapse with Katie Couric on NBC television’s “Today” show.

Dr. Grody published two books. The first, “Benign Postoperative Gynecologic Surgery,” was published in 1994. The second, his memoir entitled, “Rx for Happiness: An OB/GYN’s Story,” was published in 2007.

Dr. Grody was a founder of Beth El Temple of West Hartford and served on its first Board of Directors, 1953-1959. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Hartford Stage Company from 1963-1985. He also was a founder of the Suburban Swim and Racquet Club in Bloomfield, CT.

Funeral arrangements are being made by the Weinstein Mortuary of Hartford, CT. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2015 at Beth El Temple Cemetery, 51 Jackson Street, Avon, CT. For further information or to sign the guest book for Dr. Grody, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.

Following the interment, the family will receive relatives and friends at the home of Jeffrey and Marilyn Grody at 110 High Wood Road, West Hartford, CT 06117. Memorial respects (Shiva) will be observed from 1-5 and 7-9 on Friday, July 10 and Sunday, July 12 at the home of Jeffrey and Marilyn Grody at 110 High Wood Road in West Hartford, CT 06117. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024-2126.

Service Date: 01/01/1970