William (Bill) Louis Grimes passed away February 16, 2025, at the age of 83. Bill was born in San Bernardino, CA, November 4, 1941, to Dorothy Delia Grimes and Milton Mangone. Bill grew up in Los Angeles, where he developed a love for the Pacific Ocean, which led him to become a certified scuba diver. He enjoyed swimming and boating and often traveled with his uncle’s family for weekends on Catalina Island. As well, he loved to drive his sporty red MG along the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway.
Bill was a graduate of USC and worked for a time as a purser for the airlines. He moved to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan, where he earned a master’s degree in American Studies. He worked for Ford Motor Company for 20 years as a vice president in the Real Estate sector, and later as an instructor at Washtenaw Community College, teaching real estate, appraisal, and business communication. In addition, he held a real estate license, an appraisal license, and a builder’s license, which led to other employment opportunities.
Bill married Mary Ann Chapell in 1971. They welcomed daughter Molly in 1977 and son Peter in 1979. Bill enjoyed attending his children’s various activities: for Molly—field hockey, volleyball, softball, ballet, tennis, and piano recitals—swimming meets for both—and golf matches, skiing, and scuba diving with his son Peter. Bill served as pack leader while Peter was a Cub Scout at Lawton Elementary School and coached Peter’s rec and ed basketball team, Slauson 1. The two each tended to at-home aquariums for several years.
In June of 1997, Bill married Martha (Marty) Buhr Hahn, adding Marty’s two children, Joseph and Catherine, to their blended family.
Bill enjoyed babysitting for his grandchildren—Jack, Dylan, and Matty Grimes, Hattie and Annie Ominsky, and Colton Hahn, and attended their activities on stage; on the field, court, or golf course; at the track; and in the pool or on the diving board. Bill was an especially good tennis player and enjoyed playing a set or two with Molly. He also enjoyed participation in several sports himself: shooting pool, swimming and scuba diving, golf, skiing, hiking, sailing, and power boating. An avid boater, Bill spent a month each summer at the Buhr family cottage on Lake Charlevoix, where he loved to rev up the engine of his power boat Trophy and cruise to Ironton and Boyne City or across Lake Michigan to Petoskey or Harbor Springs.
Come autumn, Bill and Marty would put on their maize and blue and head for the Big House to cheer on the Michigan Wolverines. They attended several bowl games: 3 Rose Bowls, a Citrus, and an Outback Bowl. They followed the 1997 Wolverines to Pasadena for the game against Washington State. Unable to secure tickets, they crashed the Washington State tailgate and watched the game on the big screen along with about 2,000 Washington State fans. You also could find them in the stands at Crisler Arena cheering, “Let’s go, Blue!” as the Wolverines took the court.
After Bill received a stent in 2006, he went daily to the workout facility at the Polo Fields to stretch and use the treadmill. As well, he and Marty participated in the monthlong Big & Loud Training at the U of M physical therapy department. Bill continued to be active long after his Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s necessitated a move to Towsley Village at the Chelsea Retirement Center, where he lived for the last three years of his life. His personal aide, Tanya, and personal trainer, Rich, helped him to keep walking and participating in Center activities.
Bill loved music, especially classical and Celtic music. He played guitar and mandolin and had a lovely tenor voice. He and Marty had season tickets for Ann Arbor Symphony and UMS concerts, and often attended U of M Music School student and faculty recitals. His medical massage therapist, Lisa, played classical music during each massage. One session, while “Ave Maria” played, Bill burst into song, singing the lyrics in Italian.
Bill loved to travel. He spent many happy vacations with his family on Sanibel Island and at Camp Michigania, taking his sailboat along. He and Marty visited California several times to visit family. Bill enjoyed two trips to Hawaii, bringing his children and Marty’s in shifts to visit. To celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, Bill and Marty flew to Juneau, Alaska, and cruised the Inland Passage, marveling at the glaciers and trying to spot a whale.
The two also traveled across the Atlantic Ocean, cruising from Copenhagen to St. Petersburg with stops in Helsinki and Stockholm. Twice they traveled to Paris. A highlight was their trip to the Normandy Beaches, a sobering and profound experience. Bill and Marty also traveled to London and Stratford, and then, with their two daughters, flew to Ireland to visit Cork, Youghal, and Dublin. Driving on the opposite side of the road with Bill at the wheel was an adventure in itself! One summer Bill and Marty spent a month in Italy, staying a week each in Venice, Sorrento, Florence, and Rome to immerse themselves in Italian culture. Their final cruise was from Greenwich to Norway in 2018, with a side trip to St. Andrew’s Golf Course in Scotland, where they posed for a photo on the famous stone bridge.
Bill loved learning and enjoyed playing Scrabble and watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!. He often knew the answer before a contestant buzzed in. It was his wish to donate his brain to neurological research at the University of Michigan in the hope that treatment or a cure might be found for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
Bill is survived by his wife Martha Buhr Grimes, his daughter Molly Elizabeth Ominsky, his son Peter (Kimberly) Grimes, his stepson Joseph (Jessica) Hahn, his stepdaughter Catherine Hahn (partner Mike Khaddaj); his grandchildren: Hattie & Annie Ominsky, Jack, Dylan, and Matthew Grimes; his stepgrandchildren: Colton, Grayson, and Logan Hahn, and Cadence Josephine Khaddaj; his first wife Mary Ann Grimes, and former son-in-law Michael Ominsky. He was preceded in death by his parents, his aunt Marion Bramble and uncle Glenn Bramble, and cousins Jeanne Pieper, sister Joanna Bramble, and father Donald Bramble.
Bill’s family is grateful for the skilled and kind care of his aides and the staff at Towsley Village, and the loyal and loving care of Tanya Kolela, Rich Fernandez, Lisa Garypie, and Chaplain Elizabeth Seymour. At Bill’s request, a memorial celebration with his family will be held at a future date. Those who wish to honor Bill’s life with a donation could do so by supporting the following:
Michigan Brain Bank
North Campus Research Complex
2800 Plymouth Rd., bldg. 60, office 1650
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund
2101 Commonwealth Blvd., ste. D
Ann Arbor, MI 48105