Harvey Naftel Grut

SHARON—Harvey Naftel Grut, 89,  died Dec. 30, 2009, at Sharon Hospital. His friend and companion for the last 50 years, Robert Julien, was at his side.

Harvey was born June 21, 1920, in Salt Lake City, Utah,  the son of Laura Margaret Harvey and Joseph Henry Grut.

He received his early education at the New Mexico Military Academy at Roswell, N.M., and graduated from Grosse Pointe High School in Michigan in 1938. From there he went to the Pratt Institute of Design in Brooklyn, N.Y., but his studies were interrupted when he was drafted.

He served for a full four years and was proud of his service as a technical sergeant in the Adjutant General Section of the 7th U.S. Army. He was awarded the Bronze Star at a ceremony in the European Theatre on Oct. 18, 1945.

Harvey then returned to Pratt  to finish his studies and from there, on scholarship, he went to the Ecole des Beaux Arts at Fontainebleau near Paris, France.

Harvey subsequently worked for McFadden Publications and Hearst Publications, and for a while had his own art agency.

In early 1950, a friend suggested that he apply for a position at Time, Inc. The timing could not have been more auspicious for Time was planning to launch a new sports magazine about the world of professional athletes. Harvey was one of the original staff in the art department of Sports Illustrated which soon became the world’s premiere sports magazine.  The magazine’s well-deserved reputation was due in large part to a dedicated art department, which provided great graphics, great photography and, especially, original art work from major illustrators in the field of sports.

Harvey spent the remainder of his career at Time, Inc., and realized his dream of becoming art director of Sports Illustrated for several years before he retired in 1985.

Shortly after, he moved to Salisbury, realizing another dream of living in a beautiful, rural area.

Harvey is survived by a niece, Kathleen Ross-Klein of Grosse Pointe; and a nephew, Charles Ross of Ann Arbor, Mich.

He was predeceased by his twin sister, Barbara N. Ross; and a nephew, John Harvey Ross.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Noble Horizons, 17 Cobble Road, Salisbury, CT, 06068. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care of the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan.

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