Robert Grondine

HONOLULU, HAWAII / OXFORD - Robert F. Grondine died Thursday, October 20, 2011, at his home in Honolulu, Hawaii, after a lengthy illness. Born in Milford on January 29, 1952, he was raised in Oxford where his intellect and drive for excellence shone at an early age. Robert was valedictorian of his high school class, he graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College, and attained his law degree from Boston University. To gain a competitive edge in the field of law, he attended the language school at Cornell University to learn Japanese; a language few lawyers spoke at the time. He lived in Tokyo, Japan, and was an eminent partner at the international law firm of White & Case, where he helped build the firm from three lawyers to one of the largest international firms in Asia. He practiced in the area of commercial law, particularly mergers and acquisitions, structured finance and tax-effective transactions. Robert had boundless energy and an insatiable desire to learn and see the world. In addition to his demanding law practice, he was a professor of law at Keio University Law School in Tokyo and lectured at universities across the United States. He generously championed many charitable causes, mentored new attorneys, and was previously president and then chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. He leaves his wife and daughter, Aiko and Michelle Grondine of Hawaii; his parents, Albert and Mary Grondine of Oxford; a brother, Richard and his wife Carolyn, a sister, Diane (Grondine) Saad and her husband George Saad, all of Dudley, and a sister Elaine (Grondine) Kennedy of New Hampshire; and numerous nephews and nieces. He was interred in Hawaii on November 5, 2011. A memorial calling hour will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2011, from 10-11 a.m. at Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford. A graveside service will follow at North Cemetery in Oxford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.

The time is approximate. We will begin the graveside service after traveling to the cemetery following the calling hour.