Richard Walter Gross, age 58, passed away on Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at UMass Medical Center in Worcester. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 4, 1958, the son of the late Donald Gross and Carol Wisniewski Gross Corl. He was educated in Pittsfield schools and was a 1976 graduate of St. Joseph High School. He was a two-time Western MA High School Wrestling Champion, State Finalist, All-Berkshire Team Wrestler, and Captain of the St. Joe’s Varsity Team in 1976. He continued his education at Berkshire Community College and Central Connecticut College. He served four years in the United States Air Force as an avionics and radar systems specialist and later continued his education to earn his doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University.
Dr. Gross served as the Superintendent of Schools in Taunton, MA for Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School. He retired in 2015 after over twenty years as an administrator there and in several schools in the Albany, NY area. He devoted his career to bettering the futures of students and their families through career and technical training and worked tirelessly to improve the availability of these programs to students throughout Massachusetts and New York. A New York Yankees and Buffalo Bills fan, Rick also enjoyed model railroading, camping, boating, and helping family and friends with home improvement projects.
Richard is survived by Judith (Jones) Gross and his daughter Hannah Grace Dyer of Johnsonville, NY; his brothers, Michael (wife Rosa) Gross of Windsor, MA and James Walter Corl of Adams, MA; his mother: Carol (husband Frank) Corl of North Adams; his father-in-law: Ellis Jones, Jr. of Petersburg, NY; his mother-in-law: Judith Jones of Buskirk, NY; Patricia Seymour of Peru, MA; his brothers and sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

FUNERAL NOTICE Calling hours will be held TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2017 from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, MA. Funeral services will be held WEDNESDAY at 11:00 AM at the funeral home followed by burial in Pittsfield Cemetery with military honors.

Affiliations

Air Force