Obituary of Lorraine Grossi

Mrs. Lorraine Balchunas Grossi of Grapevine, Texas, at the age of 61 years passed away on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 at her home in Grapevine, and after a lengthy illness. She had received Confirmation in the Catholic Church, and was celebrated in a private service at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Rowlett, TX. Lorraine was born in Queens, New York to Stanley Balchunas and Eleanor Balchunas (neeKrol) on December 25th, 1959. Raised in Port Jefferson, NY, she went to high school at Ward Melville and graduated in 1978 with high honors. Matriculated to Cornell University, she earned the degree of Science and General Studies in 1982. Lorraine went on to earn a Masters in Business Administration in Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. A dedicated aerospace and defense professional, Lorraine worked as an cost-analysis engineer and then trainer at Bell Helicopter for more than 25 years. She contributed to the V-22 Tiltrotor (nee JVX), and RAH-66. She also supported briefly the development of Space Shuttle Endeavor (OV-105). Lorraine was a widely known trainer in many subjects including public speaking, Myers-Briggs Types (c), and provided orientation to hundreds of new employees. Her passion for aviation fueled her to become a certificated aviatrix with Airplane Single Engine Land rating with additional flight training in gliders, and ground school in rotary-wing aircraft. Her favorite type was the tail-dragger biplane. At an early age she became a self-taught musical organist and enjoyed composing original works performed for family and friends. Her related talents included authoring original rhyming poetry which were often transformed into lyrics. Her casual interests included debunking emerging theories in astrophysics, geology, and medical research, and often with the exclaim “what were they thinking?” Her spouse often commented that Lorraine was the smartest women she ever met and had a brain the size of a “planet”. Honors and memberships included the A. W. Laubengayer Prize for outstanding scholarship in chemistry at Cornell University; elected to membership of the American Helicopter Society; member of the Experimental Aircraft Association; and, member of the Society for Human Resource Management. Mrs. Grossi is survived by her best friend of 41 years and spouse of 32 years, Silvia Grossi of Grapevine, Texas, and cousins in Florida and New York, and in-laws in Massachusetts and Tuscany Italy. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, and parents, and her father in-law. Memorial donations may be made to Tarrant Area Food Bank (www.tafb.org).