Viora Grunewald

Longtime Glendale resident, Viora Grunewald, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2012. Born January 2, 1920, in Forest Hills, New York, to Adolph and Viora B. Grunewald, she and her family moved to Glendale in 1932.

Viora graduated from Glendale High School and continued her education at University of California, Los Angeles, graduating in 1944. At UCLA, she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, and she continued this affiliation with Glendale alumni chapter, serving many years as a historian.

Viora had a great interest in the out-of-doors, supported charities dedicated to preserving the natural environment, and was a Life Member of the Women’s Athletic Club of Glendale, Hikers Division. Not only did she hike most of the hills in the Glendale- Los Angeles area, but she also spent each summer at Lake Arrowhead at the family cabin, walking daily and enjoying the mountains.

After graduation from the University, she worked at Pacific Finance in accounting. She then returned to college to earn her General Secondary teaching credential and began employment with the Los Angeles Unified School District, at John Marshall High School, teaching accounting and business subjects. After 27 years at Marshall, Viora retired, yet she continued her support of education with membership in the Marshall Retired Teachers Association and the California Retired Teachers Association.

A world traveler, Viora had her personal list of wonderful sites that she had visited—one year, the Great Wall of China, the next year, Machu Picchu, and another, the Great Reef in Australia, and on and on. She especially loved the European visits with her German relatives. When they visited her in California, she enjoyed seeing our National Parks with them, tent camping.

Viora is survived by Edith, Ulrike, Cornelia, and Wolfgang, relatives residing in Germany. A private memorial service is planned in April. Any questions or communications may be addressed to Barbara Johnson, bjohnson1831@earthlink.net.