Dean Gilbert Gross
Obituary
Passed away July 30, 2022 at home in Healdsburg, California, age 98, only a few months shy of his 99th birthday.
Born in Royal Oak, Michigan in 1923, Dean grew up an only child during the depression years. The experiences of these years were the foundation for how he lived in subsequent decades. He graduated from Wayne University in 1946 with a BA in Special Education, but a broken elbow from falling on the ice prevented him from being in a classroom. As a result his career started in the insurance business, which brought him to San Francisco in 1947 to manage a branch office. Upon arrival, he fell in love with San Francisco. It was in SF that he met several life-long friends, met his late wife Ginny, and decided to quit the insurance business to become a Special Ed Teacher for which he had previously studied. Over the course of 30+ years, he taught severely mentally retarded kids in both San Francisco and Silicon Valley schools before retiring in the early 1980's.
Throughout his long life, Dean recognized that one never knows where the road may take them, and felt that he should always be prepared to take advantage of every opportunity when presented. With this in mind, 8 years ago, Dean took another fork in the road, and decided to start a new adventure on Fitch Mountain in Healdsburg. At 91 yrs old he moved up to Healdsburg from Silicon Valley, and never regretted it. He loved Healdsburg and the surrounding communities. In no time he became an ambassador for the City, as someone in their 90's should. He also became a big supporter of several local charities; including, the Sonoma County Humane Society in Healdsburg and the Healdsburg Center for the Arts. Over the last 5 years numerous senior and adult cats have been the benefactors of having their adoption sponsored by Dean and his partner Clay, usually whenever a cat made Dean cry. His presence in Healdsburg, and at three animal shelters he and his partner supported will be deeply missed.
Another fork in the road Dean took was to become a winemaker. Soon after moving to Healdsburg, and at the young age of 91, Dean became co-wine maker and chief grape stomper of a delicious off-dry Gewurztraminer. His passion and his bare feet went into every bottle, earning top 3 finishes every year in the annual Blind Gewurztraminer Taste Off on Fitch Mountain. When not making wine or attending to the kitties, Dean and his partner traveled. In fact, Dean traveled all over the world his entire life. He took many cruises, flew on long flights,
Published in Healdsburg Tribune · September 2, 2022