Obituary of Marcia Speer Gruver

Marcia Speer Gruver Born November 8, 1945, Marcia Sue Speer Gruver, beloved wife of Gene Gruver, passed away on January 19, 2021, following a long struggle with cancer. She was in Family Hospice care and the care of close family at home in Point Breeze, and was surrounded by family and friends. She is the mother of Candice Kail of New York City and John Gruver of Pittsburgh, and is the grandmother of Camille of New York City and Allyson, Andrue, Evan, Gwen, and Alexandra of Pittsburgh. Born in Wichita, KS, to Bill and Sally Speer, she is survived by her sisters, Sally Goodgion and Linda Edgerton both of Seattle, WA, and her brother, John Speer of Wichita. Marcia met her husband at Southwestern College in Kansas and moved to Pittsburgh in 1970 after attending graduate school at Iowa State University. She was the Site Administrator for the One Stop Shop for dislocated workers run by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services in the 1980s. She became the Alumni Director for Semester at Sea and spent the longest part of her career there, establishing or reviving alumni chapters across the country and doing what she did best – connecting people and programs, and planning events. Marcia then worked as the Development Director for Bethlehem Haven and retired from there. Marcia played key roles in multiple projects and was instrumental in the life of First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh in Shadyside during her 50 years as a member. She created a lasting impact through volunteer work and her career, as well as through the many friendships she nurtured worldwide throughout the years. She valued friendship and community, building hers by noticing and appreciating the unique qualities of all those she befriended. She loved spending time with family and friends and planning gatherings. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in her honor to First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh or to the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh. Her family plans to hold a memorial service and celebration of her life when the virus has subsided and it is safe to do so in person, hopefully in late summer. Details will be available at a later date. Condolences may be expressed at www.mccabebrothers.com.