BRADY MATTHEW GRIM's Obituary
Brady Matthew Grim, age 53, of Leesburg, Virginia, passed away at home on Thursday, April 20, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Mattison Grim, Jr. and Betty Davis Grim. He is survived by his sister, Kristin Shultz (Matthew Shultz), of Waterford, VA, his niece Kamrin, nephew Ty, and perhaps Brady’s greatest love, KK, his 30-pound black cat.
Brady was a passionate career and volunteer paramedic and firefighter. His love for public service began as a child visiting his Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Gilbert in Indian Head, Maryland, who had a police and fire scanner always running. If you were around Brady, there was always a scanner (or ten) running! When Brady was 16 and finally eligible to volunteer, he chose the Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Station (421). It was at Fair Oaks that he learned about fire operations, which fueled his desire to excel in the field. There were many Fourth of July celebrations where Brady competed in the Firemen's races as a member of the Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department; he so enjoyed that experience. After high school, Brady attended Clemson University to study Accounting but quickly realized that the Fire Service and EMS were his passion. He joined the Clemson University Fire Department as a student and never looked back, always wanting to advance his skills and knowledge. Soon, he attended school to become a paramedic and earned his bachelor’s degree in Fire Science from the University of Maryland. Brady became a celebrated medic with several lifesaving awards. In addition to the departments already mentioned, his public service career took him to Pendleton, SC, Pickens County, SC, Medshore EMS, SC, Stafford, VA, Chancellor Fire Department in Spotsylvania, VA, Caroline County, VA, King William, VA, Central, SC, and finally, Leesburg, VA. Brady attended countless courses at the state and local levels as well as the National Fire Academy. Brady was also an instructor, teaching countless fire and EMS classes everywhere he went. His legacy will live on in the future actions and public service contributions of the students and colleagues he taught, coached, and mentored.
Brady was a survivor of melanoma cancer. Although his skin didn't like the sun, Brady always did, and he loved being in and around the water. Some of his favorite places to visit were St. Thomas, USVI, and the Cayman Islands. He was an avid diver and assisted in dive rescue in South Carolina. If you were around him for any period of time, you would also know he was a huge sports fan. He enjoyed watching football, baseball, hockey, and NASCAR. At the collegiate level, his pride was all things Clemson. At the national level, he was passionate about the Commanders, Nationals, and Capitals.
Brady’s career as a firefighter/paramedic and fire Captain at the Caroline County Fire Department was tragically cut short when he was the passenger in a near-fatal auto accident on December 9, 2007. Though he coded several times on the operating table that night, he pulled through to the surprise of everyone. Brady had a long journey to heal from his extensive list of injuries. But Brady was a fighter; he never gave up, even when the pain was excruciating.
Brady was his happiest in Clemson, South Carolina, but he moved to Leesburg in 2022 to be near his sister and advanced medical care. He was fortunate to find another fire department family at the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Department (601). He loved riding on the fire trucks, helping with public service events, and just enjoying the camaraderie of fellow passionate firefighters. In January 2023, Brady had his final surgery at Georgetown Hospital to repair a tear in his esophagus caused by the trauma of the auto accident. Unfortunately, that surgery was unsuccessful, and Brady’s recurrent pneumonia continued. Ultimately, complications from the auto accident 15.5 years ago took his life.
The family offers a special thank you to several folks in Brady’s life that helped us watch and assist him when he was out of our immediate reach. Words cannot adequately express our gratitude for how much that assistance meant.
Rest in eternal peace, Brady.
Visitation will be held, on Thursday, May 11th, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg, VA 20175.
A firefighter’s funeral service will be held on Friday, May 12th, at 10 AM, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 605 W. Market St, Leesburg, VA.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
Online condolences may be made to the family at https://www.loudounfuneralchapel.com.
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