Robert E. Grossman

The South Bend Tribune South Bend, Indiana
Wed, Jan 23, 1985

Civic leader R.L. Grossman found dead

suicide ruled in Grossman death

Argos businessman found dead

ARGOS Local businessman and civic leader Robert E. Grossman, who would have been 48 today, died Tuesday of what has been ruled suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning

According to Marshall County police, Grossman's body was found in his car about 9am Tuesday by two Argos town employees in a cemetery on the east sale of Argos

Marshall County Coroner Dean Byers, who ruled that Grossman died from carbon monoxide poisoning, said a note found inside the car indicated the death was a suicide,

Byers did not reveal the contents of the note, saying they were of personal nature Byers added that no reference was made in Grossman's note to his affiliation with the troubled State Exchange Finance Co

Grossman, wbo lived at 350 Woodland Trail, was president and part owner of the Grossman Funeral Home He also was a former director of ihe bankrupt State Exchange Finance Corp (SEFCO) and was named as a defendant in a federal civil suit filed by SEFCO investors, who blame SEFCO problems on Ihe wrongdoing of the firm's management

Grossman resigned from the SEFCO board last August, according to bunk officials, eight months before his term was to expire Rank officials said his resignation was attributed to "personal reasons".

Marshall County Sheriff Richard Tyaon said there are "other circumstance (surrounding the death) that I mm not at liberty to say at this time

Sources, requesting not to be identified, today said the Grossman funeral Home was in the process of being sold at the time of Grossmans death Grossman also reportedly had been working with Plymouth attorney Robert Sowinski in an investment company called Combined Capital, although Sowinaski today refused to confirm that

Grossman is the second person associated with SEFCO to take his own life Fred Adams, former SEFCO chairman, died Jan. 10, 1983, from a self inflicted gunshot wound in a wood near Culver, after learning that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp planned to investigate possible criminal violations in connection with the SEFCO

Services for Grossman will be at 11 a m Friday at Grossman Funeral Home, Argos.

Burial will be In Maple Grove Cemetery Friends may call from 4 lo 9 p m. Thursday in the funeral home Memorial contributions may be made to the Argos Emergency Medical Service.

He was born Jan. 23, 1947, In Argos

On July 10, 1965, in Columbia City, he married Bonnie Bezner, who survives with two sons, Christopher and Gregory Grossman, both at home; and his mother, Ruth Grossman of Argos

He was a graduate of the Indiana College of Mortuary Science and Ball State University.

He was a member of the Congregational Christian Church. Lions Club. Masonic Lodge, Chamber of Commerce, Argos Industrial Foundation, MaxInkuckee IOOF lodge, Indiana Funeral Directors Association.