Grad gets high school sheepskin at 82

Wednesday, June 4, 1997 | 10:33 a.m.

Mae Gronert died nearly three years ago, but William Gronert persisted and received his sheepskin Tuesday during ceremonies at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts.

Gronert, with his freshly pressed crimson robe and new tie, was among 154 graduates of Reno's alternative Washoe High School. He was given a standing ovation.

"That really hit me," Gronert said. "It brought a little tear to my eye. I thought of my beloved wife."

He also recalled his father, a "tough Dutchman" who pulled him out of high school during his junior year in 1930.

"He said I was a dummy, and when I didn't pass geometry, he said 'You've had it."'

His father sent him to sea to learn engineering on a merchant marine ship.

After a career in engineering and insurance, Gronert moved from Miami in 1995 to live with his son, Russell, and daughter-in-law June Gronert, principal at Donner Springs Elementary School.

It was then that he decided to follow his wife's wishes.

"I always said that I'll get to it, but I was raising a family. Now, time is running short. I can't buy green bananas any more."

Last winter, he sent for his transcripts from his Bronx high school to learn how many more he needed. Amazingly, they still were on file.

"They teased him that his records were on the bottom of the very last box," June Gronert said.

He pursued his studies, mostly at home, poring over science, civics, history and math assignments and tests with the help of a reading machine that enlarged the text so that he could read it.

Gronert was graduated from Washoe High School, which serves the district's non-traditional pupils. Most are troubled teenagers who need more structure than ordinary high schools provide.

"This is about not quitting on education," said Washoe High Principal Robert Floyd. "We struggle to get that message home to kids who are 15, 16 years old. Maybe he's a guy who can be a beacon to those kinds of kids."