This is the first in a series of articles about people who have shaped Los Altos.
Throughout the history of Los Altos, it has taken caring residents to help the city thrive. For Bob and Marion Grimm, giving to the community came naturally.
The Grimms moved to Los Altos in 1962 and became involved with community service early on in a range of causes. In 1997, the Town Crier named them the Los Altans of the Year for their extensive volunteerism.
Bob Grimm was a long-time engineer at Hewlett-Packard and was also on the Los Altos City Council from 1976-1984, including serving as mayor for a one-year term in 1979. He began his volunteering with the United Way nonprofit organization due to Hewlett-Packard’s connection with the nonprofit. Later, he served as president on the board of trustees of the United Way of Santa Clara County from 1974 to 1975 and as president of the United Way of California from 1978 to 1980.
Marion Grimm first got involved in local PTAs for the four Grimm children, before joining a variety of local nonprofit chapters, including the League of Women Voters, the Red Cross and the American Association of University Women. She also helped on Bob Grimm’s campaign for the Los Altos City Council,
where she recruited Julie Rose, who became a close friend of the family and served as the president of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, to support the campaign.
Rose described Marion as someone who was both generous and who meant business…more.
Bob and Marion Grimm were involved in a range of causes in the local area. Courtesy of Julie Rose
