Alexis Maurice Gross, 88, died of COVID Aug. 20, 2020, in Naples. He was born in Camden, ME, April 19, 1932, the son of Lloyd and Glennys (Kalloch) Gross.
Alex was a graduate of Deering High School, Portland, ME, and Northeastern University, Boston, with graduate studies in plastics at Akron University, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army.
He was employed by Rubbermaid in Wooster, OH, where he developed new products, one of which was our popular Waste Management bins. Later he was employed by Nalge in Rochester, NY, as an engineer for the tubing division. He was president of the local Society of Plastic Engineers.
In Ohio, Alex was very involved in community work, and he and his wife Ann enjoyed their couples bridge club. The family spent many years traveling across the U.S., covering 44 states.
Alex was active in several sports. But his main hobby was winemaking. He won several awards from the American Wine Society and at the NY State Fair. He meticulously designed his own wine label, "Gross's Grotto."
Alex will be remembered for his wisdom, intelligence, integrity, values, his wonderful sense of humor even into his last illness, and his love of family.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ann (Boyajian) Gross of Fairport, NY, and Naples, FL; a daughter Dianne Gross (Woody Clarke) and grandchildren Alexandra and Taylor Clarke of El Dorado Hills, CA; a son Stephen Gross (Bobby Ciletti) of Boston, MA; three sisters in Connecticut: Dolores McCarthy of Norwich; Jeanine Lawrence of Quaker Hill; and Anita Fernald of Groton; and several nieces & nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Alan.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Support Network, 660 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 21, Naples, FL 34102, or to your favorite charity in Alex's memory.