Allan Grossman, Called 'Conscience of Saline,' Has Passed Away

Allan Grossman, who was the City of Saline’s attorney from 1960 to 2012, died Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 at the age of 86.

Grossman was described by friends and colleagues as the consummate professional whose service to the community went far beyond billable hours, and whose work shaped the city that more than 9,000 people call home today.

Former mayor and retired Washtenaw County Judge Don Shelton first knew Grossman as a fellow attorney. Grossman was also City Attorney for all of Shelton’s 10 years as Mayor and City Council member.

“We all valued his opinions and advice, not only because he was the best municipal attorney in Michigan, but more because he was one of the most ethical, honest and caring persons I knew. I always thought of him as the ‘conscience of Saline,’” Shelton said. “That respect and the personal friendship we forged with Allan and Natalie continued for the following 30 years.”

Grossman’s 52-year run as city attorney ended at the same meeting in which ended Gretchen Driskell’s 14-year tenure as mayor. Driskell, now State Representative for the 52nd Michigan District, said Grossman’s impact can be seen all over the city.

“His fingerprints are on just about everything the city has done in the last 50 years. He was very professional, very reasonable and really thorough. He helped us avoid crisis, and when there was a crisis, he helped us manage the situation for the best possible outcome for the city,” Driskell said. “He was a mentor for me, especially when I started as mayor.”

Driskell and fellow former Mayor Pat Little both spoke about his duty to the law.

“He was a very astute attorney who would give you his opinion, based on law. It wasn’t biased by what the Mayor or a council member might have wanted,” Little said.

Little recalled that lawyers from Phillips, the international electronics giant which planned a 400,000 square-foot “Factory of the Future” on Saline’s east side, were impressed by the way Grossman represented Saline’s interests.

Mayor Brian Marl said he was very sorry to learn of Grossman’s passing.

“He was a tremendous public servant, and someone who served with great distinction as the city's chief attorney for more than 50 years. Allan was also a pillar in the community, involved in countless ways. He was a person of outstanding intellect, and integrity -- and was one of the first people I called when I was thinking about running for Mayor. His counsel and advice benefitted me, and so many other community members, during his many years of service to the Saline community,” Marl said. “He will be greatly missed, and the entire city government extends condolences and best wishes to the Grossman family.”

Grossman’s demeanor impressed former Saline Area Chamber of Commerce Director Larry Osterling when he watched proceedings at city council meetings.

“He was very measured and level with his words. He always knew the law and went by the book. He would present an issue and lay out the options. I think the city got a bargain for his service,” Osterling said.

Osterling said the longstanding lawyer was known as the “Dean of City Attorneys” in Michigan.

As a business owner, he was supportive of the chamber of commerce and community events, Osterling said.

He was very active in Saline’s sister city efforts with Lindenberg, Germany, and Brecon, Wales.

Among the many awards he received over the years, Grossman was Saline’s Lifetime Achievement award winner in 2000. In 2003, he was presented the Distinguished Attorney Award by the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys.

Grossman opened his law practice in Saline in 1958 at the age of 28. In 1959 he was elected president of the Saline Chamber of Commerce.

Grossman, in 1959, said he was especially interested in the work of the chamber of commerce’s Industrial Development Committee, and in issues of zooming and annexation.

“Not enough thought has been given to cooperative action among the little checkerboards of political subdivisions and how to coordinate them,” he told the Saline Reporter more than 55 years ago. “We all know the disadvantages of helter-skelter growth and they must be avoided.”

Grossman’s legal work helped bring Ford to town and create the industrial parks that serve Saline’s industrial businesses today.

Grossman is survived by his wife, Natalie, and children, David, Matthew, Erik, Lisa and Martha. He was preceded in death by his son, John, and ex-wife, Shirley Hagen-Grossman.

Arrangements were not available at the time of this article’s publishing.

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