James R. Grossman, age 94, passed away on Feb. 4, 2022.  Born in Fort Wayne, Ind., on Feb. 20, 1927, he was the son of the late Henry C. and Stella F. (Alexander) Grossman.  He was a graduate of Central High School in Fort Wayne where he participated in many speech competitions and won state championships in both oratorical and original oratory presentations.  After high school, he served in the U.S. Navy and was a World War II veteran.  Following military service, he attended Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., where he received his B.A. and J.D. degrees.  Following graduation from I.U. Law School, he became associated with the distinguished Fort Wayne law firm of Newkirk, Keane & Kowalczyk.  He often commented that his training with this firm, and with his mentor, James Newkirk, prepared him for a legal career that extended over fifty years.  In 1954, he married Virginia A. (Gibson) Grossman and they raised three children together:  Gary, Luke and Amy Grossman.

James was an avid tennis player and played in senior tournaments throughout the country.  He won numerous Fort Wayne senior tennis titles.  He organized and served as president of the Fort Wayne Tennis Commission and the Fort Wayne Tennis Umpires Association.  He was also a longtime member of the Greater Fort Wayne CTA.  He once served as the chair umpire for a match between tennis greats John McEnroe and Guillermo Vilas at Notre Dame.  He was also a member of a Fort Wayne senior team that finished 2 ^nd in the nation in 1992.  James was inducted into the Fort Wayne Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984.  He and his son, Luke, were the first father-son members of the Fort Wayne Tennis Hall of Fame.

James married again in 1996 to Linda E. (Rettig) Grossman.  He is survived by his children, Gary Grossman, Luke Grossman, and Amy (Kent) Litchin, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a stepdaughter, and a step-grandson.  He will be dearly missed.

Calling will be held on Monday, February 14, 2022 from 5-6:30 pm in Luther Hall (Door 1) at St. Michael Lutheran Church (2131 Getz Road Ft. Wayne).  Services will be held on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 12 noon with calling starting at 10:30 am at the church (Door 2) with Rev. Jerrold Nichols officiating.  Burial in Covington Memorial Gardens, Ft. Wayne.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Michael Lutheran Church - 2131 Getz Road Ft. Wayne, IN  46804.