Timothy James Grogan

Brigadier General USA (Ret) Timothy James Grogan, 84, born in Hillsboro, Oregon, passed away in Leesburg, Virginia, on August 8th, 2024. Tim fought his final battle with cancer after a six-year onslaught. He fought cancer as he fought his military battles — bravely, and with a fierce desire to beat his opponent. Tim was born in August 1940 to Jim and Joan Grogan. As a young teen, he loved music and even considered a career playing the trumpet in a jazz band. As he got older, West Point called to him, and he embarked on a career in service to his country in the United States Army. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War, where his extraordinary heroism and inspiring leadership earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross. Additionally, he received a Master of Arts Degree in Medieval Literature from Columbia University. Tim was a true Renaissance man with a passion for music, poetry, and literature, and the ability to be a commander in battle and keep his soldiers protected and alive. None of this would have happened, however, if his grandmother hadn't resuscitated a drowned 5-year-old Timothy, found at the bottom of a swimming pool. She, herself a nurse and veteran of World War I, refused to let him be taken away to mourn, and brought him back to life. In fact, Tim cheated death several times throughout his time in Vietnam, and even back home in the US when he was nearly killed in a car accident. Tim always believed he had a Guardian Angel protecting him. In 2018 Tim renewed a decades-old friendship with Marilyn Larsen, the widow of Larry Larsen, a fellow West Point graduate and Tim's duplicate bridge partner, who was killed in a car accident in 2006. They fell in love and were married in a virtual ceremony on December 6, 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. They both brought children and grandchildren to the marriage, creating a large family, seemingly overnight. Tim is survived by his wife Marilyn; his sister Kevynne Grogan Layne; daughter Susan Cooke and husband Charles Cooke; and daughter Erin Barber and husband Michael Barber. He is also survived by grandchildren Ryan and Sophia Barber; Christopher and Samantha Cooke; stepdaughter Janine Goodchild; stepson Arnold “Lee” Larsen and his wife Carol; and step-granddaughters Alexa Goodchild and Jackie Larsen. He also has two daughters from a second marriage, Stephanie Claire and Katie Grogan. Tim was preceded in passing by his younger brother, Michael Grogan, in May of this year.