Richard A. Gross

Lifelong Staten Island resident, Richard Arthur Gross, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Friday, January 3, 2025.

Richard was born on June 13, 1936, in Westerleigh, Staten Island. Shortly after graduating from Wagner College in 1959, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was stationed at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Before he left to go to White Sands, he met the love of his life, Elisabeth Jenkins. They were married in St. Patrick’s Church on March 5, 1960, and they went on to spend the next 64 years together. 

Richard was an avid sports fan, especially golf and baseball, and loved both the Dodgers and Mets. After he retired from an accounting career with Allied Chemical, he would enjoy attending Tottenville H.S. baseball games (his old alma mater where he was the handball champion of Staten Island) whenever he got the chance. Richard’s passion was spending time with his family and sharing all his stories and continuing his traditions that were given to him by his parents. Throughout his life he enjoyed telling stories of Staten Island’s past and he found joy in driving around the Island and pointing out its history and his special memories of times gone by.

Richard is survived by his wife Elisabeth, and three children Janice (Stephen), Patricia (Angelo), and Stephen (Christine) and preceded in death by his daughter Laurie. He also leaves behind a brother Thomas, a sister Helen, five grandchildren, Jacqueline, Nicholas, Jenna, Eva, Cora, and two great grandchildren, James and Christian.