UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                             CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
                          TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


   Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)       OCTOBER 20, 2004                                     
                                                    ----------------------------


                                W. R. GRACE & CO.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


                                    DELAWARE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


               1-13953                                  65-0773649
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Commission File Number)              (IRS Employer Identification No.)


           7500 GRACE DRIVE
          COLUMBIA, MARYLAND                                   21044
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                     (Zip Code)


                                 (410) 531-4000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

     [ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)

     [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14a-12)

     [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) 




                                W. R. GRACE & CO.

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT


Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

     On October 20, 2004, W. R. Grace & Co. issued a press release announcing
its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. A copy of the
press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.


                                                            W. R. GRACE & CO.
                                                         -----------------------
                                                              (Registrant)



                                                         By /s/ Mark A. Shelnitz
                                                            --------------------
                                                            Mark A. Shelnitz
                                                            Secretary

Dated: October 21, 2004






                                W. R. GRACE & CO.

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT


                                  Exhibit Index


Exhibit No.     Description

99.1            Press release issued by W. R. Grace & Co. announcing financial 
                results for the 2004 third quarter