The Life of a True Monarch
By Daniel Stumpf ('08), Dustin Drevitch ('08) and Kaylee Ziolkowski ('08)
Father Donald J. Grimes refused to allow his nurse to give him any old quilt when he was cold in his bed: he insisted on his beloved King's College blanket.
During his final days with family and friends, Father Donald J. Grimes was bedridden in his home. A home staffing nurse would constantly try to warm him up by covering him with a large quilt. No matter how cold he was, he would always refuse and ask instead to be covered with his beloved King's College blanket.
Father Grimes was born in Providence , Rhode Island on May 29, 1945, the son of J. Clement and Agnes Grimes. His remaining family includes his sister Maureen Fitch; nephew Michael Bartley and his wife Debbie; niece Susan Tolbert and her husband, Chip, and their children Katelyn, Megan and Matt.
Father Grimes received his undergraduate degree in history from Stonehill College in 1969, a master of theology from the University of Notre Dame in 1972 and a doctorate in Theology: History of Christianity from Fordham University in 1981. His honors and awards include Administrator Award for Outstanding Leadership, Service and Loyalty to King's College in 2002, the Herve A. LeBlanc Distinguished Service Professor, King's College, 1996-2000, the Christi Regis Award for 20-years of service, King's College, 1994; and membership in Delta Epsilon Sigma, and King's College Chapter in April 1982.
At King's he was the Vice President of Academic Affairs since 2001. He previously served as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Faculty, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Theology and a King's faculty member since the early 1970's.
Possibly Father Grimes' most famous accomplishment was the writing of a book titled Rooted in Hope: The First Fifty Years of King's College . The book, which he finished in 1998, documented all of the milestones of the first 50 years of the college. It has become very well-known on campus, and it's a highly requested source in the King's College library.
Brother James Miller met Father Grimes in 1963 when he entered the Holy Cross seminary at North Easton , Massachusetts . Miller and Grimes then followed each other to Kings College with Grimes arriving in 1972 during the time of the Agnes Flood. His job was to wash the money in the King's College bookstore.
Father Grimes once taught a course in Medieval Liturgy and Drama with Bro. Jim, who jokingly called him “Little One.” Father Grimes game him the moniker “Old One” in return. He strongly supported the theater department, which is headed by Miller. He would even occasionally stop by to roll up his sleeves and help paint scenery.
Father Grimes had a deep fervor for the King's Basketball team, despite his height of only five feet. He had a magnetic personality, which was full of witty sarcasm and life.
Public Relations staff member Joe Giomboni recalls a chance meeting the two once had in a hallway. He says the first day he started working at King's Father Grimes came up behind him and adjusted his shirt collar. “I turned, and noticing who it was, all I could say was, ‘Oh, thanks.' He smiled and said, ‘Everyone needs a little help when they first start out.' His smile widened and he made a little ‘umm hmm' cough where you knew he was going to say something sarcastic and added, ‘Just don't make it a habit.'”
He had a love for coffee ice cream, Sabatini's pizza and Friendly's coffee Fribbles. But Grimes' real obsession was with his college. He was so passionate that his family didn't even have to guess what was inside those wrapped gifts at Christmas time. When they opened them, they were always looking at a King's College logo.
Just Desserts
Father Grimes' model serve as a model to faculty, staff, students, and friend's of King's because he approached everything he did with great love, loyalty, passion, and joy. After dinner, he would line up pieces of his favorite candy, M&Ms, and eat them one by one, only allowing himself one of each color. He showed everyone how to relish a fine ending to an extrordinary experience; he saved the red and yellow ones for last.
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