ROCKPORT — John Jacob “Jack” Grossbaum, 86, died on August 13, 2022 at the Pen Bay Medical Center after a long illness.

Born in Manhattan on March 19, 1936, John was the only child of Gabriel and Thelma Grossbaum. In 1942, the family relocated to Forest Hills, New York, where John graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1952.

In 1954 John Joined the Naval ROTC with a three year commitment to the Navy. He graduated from Columbia College in 1956 and entered Harvard Law School where he was a classmate of Associate Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. After completing two years at Harvard, John accepted his commission in the Navy as an Ensign and served for three years of active duty. He soon after returned to Harvard Law School for his third year and graduated in 1962.

John and his wife, Barbara, moved to Bethesda, Maryland in 1968 and he accepted a position at the National Institute of Health as an Administrative Contract and Grant Officer. In 1975, John was appointed as an Administrative Law Judge with the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals. During this time John served in the Naval Reserve as a Judge Advocate General officer and retired as a Captain in 1992. He then retired from the Department of Defense in 1999 and moved to Maine, where he became a Rotarian.

John is survived by his wife, Barbara, their dog, Josh; his brother-in-law Steve Tamburri and his wife Pam; his niece Jenn Somma, her husband, Jason and daughter Giuliana; nephew Will Tamburri, his wife, Mallory and son, James.

John’s wishes were not to have a service, but for those so inclined, contributions to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America in his honor or to the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.

The family wishes to thank all of the doctors, nurses and other medical personnel at Pen Bay Medical Center for the excellent care that John received during his long illness.

To share a memory or condolence with John’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.