Obituary of STEPHAN GROSS

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Stephan (“Steve,” “Uncle Steve”) Gross on January 31st, surrounded by loved ones.

He was the loving husband of Judith Harrison, the loving father of Adam Gross and the loving son of Suzanne and Sandor Gross z”l, brother of Andrew Gross z”l, and sister Dr. Renee Gross.  His family was the cornerstone of his life, and he carried those connections with love and pride.

Steve graduated from Highland Park High School, earned a bachelor's degree from the Rutgers School of Engineering and went on to earn a graduate degree in engineering from Columbia University.

Steve's life was a testament to wisdom, compassion, and unwavering devotion to community, Judaism and Israel.  His love for Torah and Talmud study enriched Jewish communities across New Jersey, where he participated actively in synagogues, the Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Book Council. His passion for teaching shone in the Talmud classes he led for many years, leaving a lasting impact on countless lives.

Professionally, Steve was the esteemed Chief Information Officer at The Seeing Eye, where working with the service animals gave him immense joy.

Steve was a brilliant scholar and a gentle soul. He will be forever remembered for his radiant warmth, his heartfelt smile, his rich baritone voice, and an infectious laugh that brightened every room. His presence was a gift to all who knew him.

As expressed in Pirkei Avot, "Which is the straight path that a person should choose for themselves? One that is an honor to the person adopting it and brings honor from others." Steve embodied this wisdom in every aspect of his life.  May his memory be a blessing and his legacy of kindness and learning live on.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Steve’s memory to either the Highland Park Conservative Temple Congregation Anshe Emeth, Andrew Gross Scholarship Fund, 201 S. 3^rd Ave., Highland Park, NJ 08904, or to The Schechter Institutes, Inc., Jerusalem Campus, 4 Avraham Granot St., PO Box 3501, Jerusalem, 9634346, Israel.