In Memoriam

Father of the Electroencephalograph
Friend and Benefactor of ASET

When the phone rang on May 29th to convey the news of the death of Albert Grass, its ring also signaled the end of an era for ASET members. The professional career of this seemingly indomitable man quite literally encompassed the lifetime of electroencephalography. He designed and produced the first commercially available ink-writing multichannel EEG in the United States. He held many, many patents for the invention of medical instruments, was elected to membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and received two honorary doctorates.

Many readers may be unaware that Albert was a graduate of MIT who had worked on the development of RADAR during World War II and subsequently founded Grass Instrument Company with his wife, Ellen, in 1945. Many ASET members may have learned the art and craft of EEG technology on the famous “workhorse”-the Grass Model III EEG-as rugged and durable as its creator. By 1954, over 1,000 were in service and some still survive to serve in animal research. Hundreds of R. EEG T.s took their exams on its successor, the Model 6. Ever responsive to the needs and suggestions of technologists, Albert gave us such needed embellishments as all-channel sensitivity and filter controls, preselected montages, and even a 9-speed paper drive. Again, the hallmark was reliability-one Model S instrument even survived an Alaskan earthquake. One was contributed to the international medical relief ship HOPE. Later came the Models 8 and 9, as well as versions for polysomnography and many special accessories, such as photic stimulators, electrodes, ink, and electrode cream, all designed with the requirements of the patient and the technologist in mind.

When ASET was being organized in 1960, it was the Grass Instrument Company records which served as the first point of contact and information for prospective members. A Grass Service Manager, himself a technologist, served as ASET’s first Secretary. When ASET meetings began in earnest, Grass could be counted on for both financial support and educational contributions to the programs. Among the first and foremost to sign up for advertisements in the American Journal of EEG Technology was Grass Instrument Company. Later, as regional technologists’ societies began to evolve, Albert’s firm again stood ready to help with educational materials and lectures. In 1979, the Knott Lectures were inaugurated to honor the many contributions of their old friend, John R. Knott, Ph.D., to the education and professionalism of EEG technology and to provide continuing education for technologists.

ASET members should be keenly aware of the debt we owe this self-made,practical engineer and philanthropist for his bountiful and sustained support for the education and training of EEG technologists. At a time when almost no textbooks were available, when there were no accredited schools, no ABRET, no ASET, and even no regional technologist societies, he showered us with handouts, glossaries, pamphlets, accessories, and lectures, specifically oriented to our needs. And help was always as close as the nearest telephone. Perhaps some readers have even had the unique experience of having Albert personally shepherd them through a troubleshooting and repair session, patiently taking them through a series of steps and explanations which resulted not only in an instrument repair, but also in a greater knowledge of how that instrument worked. Perhaps they also discovered subsequently that much of the information they needed had been in their Grass Instrument Manual all along! This was because, as might be expected, manuals were not written by engineers, but by those who had consulted and listened to scores of technologists. Technologists were also consulted when it came to instrument design and often served as consultants in Grass exhibit booths.

Perhaps less well known, almost certainly, were his love of dogs and his devotion to sailing-the latter a legacy of years as a naval officer during World War II. His sloop, “Gamma,” was the host for distinguished visitors, employees, and old friends. Such weekend sailors were encouraged to experience personal contact with sail and tiller, but only Captain Albert was permitted to make his special cheeseburgers! Albert and Ellen also kept very private their determination to make Grass Instrument Company a family affair. Not family in just the financial sense, but family in the sense of support and encouragement and interest in the personal lives of their employees. Needy college students got summer jobs and help with tuition-but only as long as their grades were satisfactory. Illness and funerals always found Albert and Ellen Grass there to help. I recall with great pleasure attending one of their firm’s summer clambakes, with Albert presiding over the boat rides and the ice cream bar, for his love of children extended beyond his two sons, Robert, now associated with Ellen in the conduct of the Company, and Henry, a physician who is active in the Grass Foundation.

Although Albert was not a demonstrative man, there is absolutely no question of his devotion to and respect for the EEG Technologist. So, tomorrow morning, when you go into your lab and tum on the power for your electroencephalograph-whatever its manufacturer-stop and remember the man without whom you and I would not have a career.

We shall not see his like again.

– Charles E. Henry, Ph.D.
Medical College of Virginia
Richmond, Virginia

Originally published in:

The Neurodiagnostic Journal, 32: 183–185, 1992
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00029238.1992.11080407