Douglas John Groome – 50th Reunion Essay

Douglas John Groome

Date of Death: 27-Mar-2006

College: Timothy Dwight

(This memorial appeared in the January/February 2007 Class Notes.)

Dr. Douglas John Groome died peacefully at home with his family on March 27, 2006, after a long battle with cancer. After leaving Yale with a BA in psychology, Doug got his MD at the University of Connecticut in 1973. His daughter writes: “He practiced pediatrics at 285 Broad Street, Meriden, Connecticut, from 1976 until his retirement due to the progression of his illness in 2004. He was a compassionate and patient doctor, loved by many generations of patients and their families in Meriden. Doug was a member of the medical staff of Midstate Medical Center and its predecessors from 1976 to 2004. In addition to his love of practicing pediatrics, Doug had become an avid genealogist, having meticulously traced his ancestry back to the early eighteenth century. He loved to play golf, basketball, and drink beer on his Thursdays off with his good friends John Gittzus and Fred Pope. He continued to attend Yale football games whenever he could get the day off from work, teaching his children all the Yale Band fight songs over the years. The Yale games were truly memorable times for our family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Zita Groome, his daughter, Bethany, and son, Jeremy Groome. Memorial contributions can be made to Midstate Medical Center or WNPR.”

From the 25th Reunion Class Book: My name is Bethany Groome. I am Douglas Groome’s daughter. He was dreading having to write this little autobiography and therefore coerced me into writing it for him.

My dad married my mom, Zita Wasserman, a week before commencement. He then attended the University of Connecticut School of Medicine from 1969 to 1973. His pediatric residency was served at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and at University of Connecticut (1973–76). He has had a successful private practice of pediatrics in Meriden, Connecticut, since 1976.

My mom and dad adopted my brother Jeremy in 1977. He will be a junior at Cheshire Academy next year. My dad tells me that Jeremy’s athletic abilities certainly exceed his at the same age. He plays soccer and lacrosse and is also a wrestler. They produced me in 1978.

He enjoys stamp collecting and asks me to mention that there are at least ten stamps featuring Yale athletes. He’s been playing golf for twenty years and still can’t get his handicap under twenty-two. He plays basketball fairly often and once broke John Gittzus’ nose with his elbow. Dad says he lost his jump shot three years ago and still can’t find it.

Aside from Christmas greetings exchanged with Jay Saccone, his only regular contact with a classmate is with John Gittzus. They play basketball and golf and drink beer together. Dad says he enjoyed seeing Hubie Stiles, Bill Weinraub, and Dale Allen of Timothy Dwight at the twentieth reunion and hopes he can free up time to attend the twenty-fifth (he’d love his work if it weren’t for weekends on call).

From the December 2001 Class Notes: Doug Groome and wife Zita wrote from Meriden, Connecticut, to report that daughter Bethany was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and left for a year in Nepal on September 8.