Obituary: Roman S. Gribbs

DETROIT (AP) — The city of Detroit announced this week that former Mayor Roman Gribbs had died at the age of 90.

Gribbs served one term as mayor and didn’t seek re-election in 1973.

In a written statement last week, Mayor Mike Duggan says Gribbs was the “textbook definition of a dedicated public servant.”

Before winning election in 1969, Gribbs was an assistant prosecutor and sheriff.

He became a judge after leaving the mayor’s office and served on the Michigan Court of Appeals  for 20 years.

The Detroit News says Gribbs during his only term as mayor worked with Henry Ford II and others to build the Renaissance Center, a landmark building along the Detroit River.

Gribbs was survived by his wife, Leola J; daughters Paula (Roman) Rewald-Gribbs, Carla (Timothy) Brisbois-Gribbs, Rebecca (John) Lawson and Elizabeth (Gene) Gardella-Gribbs; son Christopher; stepdaughter Michelle Barr; and 16 grandchildren.

A funeral mass was held Friday at Our Lady of Victory Church in Northville.

Memorial contributions may be made to Maryknoll, PO Box 302, Maryknoll, NY, 10545, 1 (888) 627.9566; North Rosedale Park Legacy Project, www.nrpca.org; or Our Lady of Victory Church, olvnorthville.org.