Deborah Grohman

Deborah Grohman

Deborah Grohman

The Rev. Debbie Grohman was born August 30, 1963, in Jamestown, NY at the end of a vacation at Chautauqua Institution on Chautauqua Lake. Her parents, the Rev. Dr. Donald Grohman (1935-2022) and the Rev. Carolyn Close Grohman (1935-2023) were living in Geneva, Switzerland, and it was there that the family returned following the birth. Debbie spent 3 years in Geneva, including her first-grade year. The family also lived in Toronto, Canada, for 2 years before settling in Knoxville, Tennessee.

After graduation from Bearden High School, Debbie attended DePauw University in Greencastle, IN, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance. She studied for a semester in Vienna, Austria, and went on to earn a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. After five years of musical freelance work, Debbie went back to school to earn a Master of Divinity at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN. She was enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry degree program when pancreatic cancer made progress impossible.

Debbie was ordained to Christian ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA) on January 25, 1998, and served as Interim Pastor in nine churches over sixteen years, 4 of them in and around Indianapolis, IN, and 5 in and around Rochester, NY. She then served for over ten years as Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Ontario Center, NY. She also served as Administrative Coordinator for GRCC, the Greater Rochester Community of Churches. Musically, Debbie taught clarinet at The Hochstein School in Rochester, NY, for 15 years from 2009-2024, instructing all ages and at times leading the clarinet choir.

Debbie spent time each summer of her life at Chautauqua, Institution, where she was part of a 6-generation family. She sang in the auditioned Motet Choir and the Sunday choirs and played clarinet as a co-founding member of the instrumental ensemble The Motet Consort.

Debbie is survived by her husband of 35 years, Dr. Willie La Favor, and their son, Andrew La Favor.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be given to Third Presbyterian Church, Rochester, NY, WXXI Classical Radio, or the Sacred Choral Music program at the Chautauqua Institution. Family and friends will be received at the funeral chapel (2305 Monroe Avenue) on June 6 from 4-7 pm, with a funeral service at Third Presbyterian Church on June 7 at 10:00 am with a reception following. A second funeral service will be held for Chautauqua friends at a time of the family’s choosing, followed by interment at the Chautauqua Cemetery.

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