Usage of present perfect

Hello, everyone!

I know my question could have already been asked a number of times but sometimes it's really hard to find what you need =)

There is an exercise in English grammar in use where two similar sentences are given.

1) My grandfather (die) before I was born. I (never meet) him.

2) I don't know Karen's husband. I (never meet) him.

The right answers are:

1) died, never met.

2) have never met.

It's all quite clear with the second sentence. But I can't understand what's the problem with:

- My grandfather died before I was born. I have never met him. Yes, he died a long time ago, but still, I have no experience of meeting him. Or using of the present perfect suggests that, although I never met him in the past, it still may happen some time in the future, doesn't it? For that reason if my grandfather died, I cannot meet him anymore, hence - the past simple.

OR

An explanation just popped into my head: one can meet a man if only that man is alive. If my grandfather died before I was born (certain point in the past) I never met him while he was alive. As it goes, there is no connection with the present, hence - the past simple.