A MESSAGE FROM THE FAMILY

For much of my life I would tell people that I was a ‘son of a gun’, because my mother was a real pistol! But my mother was not a pistol…more like a machine gun or a tiger shark or a pit bull or a bull dozer…I am not sure if it was because of her sister’s ‘training’ shall we call it or if it was always in her. My Dad described my mother as ‘fun’ early in their relationship and she certainly remained the life of the party throughout her life. She was not bi-polar so far as we know, but she was dichotomous. She WAS the focal point of most party’s, because though small in stature she was larger than life. She was absolutely a blast one minute and without notice basting the next. She hated weakness in herself and most profoundly in others. She demanded perfection from me as a child and was truly relentless in her follow through. She came from a different time…She NEVER sacrificed what SHE wanted, but if she was on your side she was tougher than most had ever encountered. She struck fear in me and my friends when I was growing up, but was a sought after destination by my friends when I was a young adult. Though not always fair in her actions she always wanted the best for those she loved. In my adult life I became the relentless one…questioning her actions and motives frequently. Though she never said it, I know she respected me for that. As one friend noted: the way she was, made you the way you are…her style, as over the top as it certainly was truly made me the responsible, caring, determined and goal oriented person that I believe I am today. In the end, I know my mother loved me and others in the only way she knew how. She fought for me (and with me) and certainly others on too many occasions and while I often questioned her intensity, I came to understand she was trying to win at all cost to help those she loved and to vanquish those she did not. She was truly a warrior ahead of her time as a woman climbing the corporate ladder. There was no more fierce a competitor. While it took me a long time to understand that motivation, I did come to love and appreciate the protection she was trying so doggedly to provide. My Mother loved me and my family and only a few others…she was indeed ‘one of a kind’ and has left an indelible mark on this terrestrial world she has left behind…a fair warning to the spiritual world she is no doubt already working on…

OBITUARY

Roberta Ellen Grigg

October 5, 1941 – August 14, 2021

IN THE CARE OF

Palm Cheyenne Mortuary

My Mother, Roberta Ellen Grigg, “Bertsie”, “Boo Boo”, “Pal”, most well known as “Big Red” and then “GiGi” when she became a Grandmother passed away on August 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was 79.

Roberta was born on October 5, 1941 in Boston, Massachusetts. She was the second daughter of Manuel and Beatrice Silver. Sister of Carolyn Berkowitz. Roberta traveled the world at an early age through her first marriage to Retired U.S.Air Force Lt Col Robert Sandberg. While that marriage did not last long it did produce one son, now Retired U.S. Air Force Col Scott D. Sandberg, and it spawned a lifetime of relentless pursuit of success and perfection. She completed her college degree in 1975, attending night school at Boston University. She was soon hired by a ‘start up’: Medical Information Technology (MEDITECH). Larry Polimeno, who hired her, also became her boss for nearly 30 years and one of her few true and familial friends.

“Big Red” was never bigger than being a woman climbing the corporate ladder in the 70’s. Though small in stature she was larger than life and fought EVERY challenge head on. Her tenacity led to great success for the company and herself and motivated many other women along the way. She lived her life striking fear in some while inspiring others. Though her tenacious drive served her well in her professional world it did have a difficult impact on her personal life. She did remarry in 1971 to William J. Grigg.

She loved Bill, but sadly after 20 years their marriage ended. She never remarried. She enjoyed the spoils of her success in her retirement through her multiple locations in downtown Boston and her other homes in Cape Cod, MA and in Ft Lauderdale, FL.

In retirement she also pursued her true gift of interior design through short employment with one associated business and then independently. Eventually she decided to fully retire and simply help her friends to make their homes beautiful. This potential glorious period of time was unfortunately all too brief. Sadly, my mother came down with Alzheimer’s disease. She fought it valiantly, but unlike so many other battles in her life, she was not able to defeat it.

She is survived by her only child, Scott, her Daughter-in-law Gina and her truly beloved granddaughter Madeleine as well as her Sister Carolyn

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmcheyenne.com for the GRIGG family.

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